"To set a world-record for men's and women's cricket is pretty special and it's going to take a bit to chase it down."
Bates' 10th ODI century saw her surpass the great Debbie Hockley (4,066) as the White Ferns all-time ODI leading runs scorer with 4,192 runs.
"When it happened and came over the loud speaker I did actually have a bit of a moment because you think about the hard work you have done and the people who have helped you get here.
"Debbie was a player that the team looked up to and that 2000 World Cup team was a real inspiration to us."
Bates' 94-ball innings featured a strike rate of 160.63, the second-highest in an innings of 100 or more in women's ODI cricket.
The White Ferns belted a whopping 64 fours and seven sixes, and produced century stands for the first two wickets - the first time a team has done this since 2000.
Bates and Watkin's 172-run opening stand was the sixth highest in the White Ferns history, and incredibly added to Bates' record of being involved in twenty-seven 100-run ODI partnerships for her country.
The teams will have a day off in Dublin tomorrow, before meeting again on Sunday for the second game in the three-match ODI series.