Don’t rush to put this top effort in context

New Zealand should delight in Amelia Kerr’s stunning one-day performance in Dublin yesterday — but best not try to contextualise her achievement.

For a start, do you look to list the best ODI performances by men and women, or just women?

Is it, for example, a better day’s work than that of Martin Guptill in his belligerent unbeaten 237 against the West Indies in the World Cup quarter-final in Wellington three years ago?

How much account, with the greatest respect to the Irish, do you take of the opposition?

This was the third time in as many matches the White Ferns have sailed past 400, producing wins by 346, 306 and 305 runs respectively against Ireland.

It’s a highly subjective issue, so better by far simply to call it one of the finest allround displays in one-day international cricket.

This is not a knock on Kerr, after all you can only face, or bowl to, whoever is 18m away.

But it is a case where the numbers do talk.

Kerr, just 17 but already with 20 ODIs and nine T20s behind her, is clearly a gifted young sportswoman and, to liberally lift from her captain Suzie Bates, herself no slouch, just watch her go from here.

Consider this: she made 232 yesterday in 50 overs. That’s four and a half runs off every over. Her, Kerr, not the team.

She was given the chance at the top of the order in a bit of experimentation — spinner Leigh Kasperek, also promoted from low in the order, made a run-a-ball 113, sharing a 295-run second wicket partnership — but Kerr is well used to batting up the order at club and provincial level. Indeed, she talks of batting as her No 1 cricket interest. She wants to be a genuine allrounder. It’s tempting to say she is already there.

She has taken 36 ODI wickets in 20 games at 18.3 apiece; and courtesy of yesterday is averaging 67.66 with the bat.

Think about it; 232 off 145 balls, 27 off her last eight balls, 4,4,6 to finish the final over and eclipse Belinda Clark’s world record set three years before Kerr was born; then, as the sixth bowler used, five for 17 off seven overs. You could say it was her day.

Kerr is a fabulous talent. The White Ferns have top class experienced internationals such as Bates, Sophie Devine, Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu. But Kerr is turning heads for her ability, but also her age. She is a seriously special talent.