IRE vs NZ, 3rd T20I: New Zealand 180 for 4 (Phillips 56*, Mitchell 48*, Little 2-33) beat Ireland 174 for 6 (Stirling 40, Adair 37*Sodhi 2-27) by six wickets. The Black Caps are unbeaten in their trip to Ireland, having previously secured the ODI series 3-0 in Dublin. The caravan then moved to Belfast, where the Kiwis kept up with their triumphant energy with wins in the first two T20Is by sizeable margins (31 runs and 88 runs separately).

Ireland won the toss and chose to bat in the third and last T20I against New Zealand in Belfast on Friday. 

Ireland wanted to close this restricted overs series with a triumph, however more significantly, the hosts expected a significantly better show from their players. Chasing a total of 180 in the second T20I, Ireland were bundled out for only 91, with Mark Adair top-scoring with 27 runs. Ish Sodhi and Michael Bracewell had taken three wickets each.

Glenn Phillips delivered a game dominating fifty for the second time in the series to assist New Zealand with beating a precarious pursuit of 175 in the third and last T20I against Ireland in Belfast. Phillips utilised the components of the Stormont ground – wide square on one or the other side – to get 46 out of an unbeaten 56 runs, as he hit just a single four and a six.

Daryl Mitchell likewise played an imperative hand in New Zealand’s six-wicket win, scoring a 32-ball 48 with five fours and a six. He partnered up with Phillips when New Zealand were 65 for 3 in the eighth over, and their fourth-wicket association of 82 shifted the game in the guests’ favour, after which they didn’t relinquish the benefit.

Prior, Ireland’s lower order had dazzled to drive their side to 174, with Mark Adair breaking 37* off 15 balls, and Curtis Campher hitting an eight-ball 19*, as the hosts crushed 70 runs in their last five overs.

Their unbroken partnership of 58 in just 23 balls gave Ireland the force at the break, however regardless of an early extremely tight grip with the ball, they wound up losing their 6th white-ball game against New Zealand in the 2022 home summer, losing both the ODI and the T20I series 3-0.

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The Phillips-Mitchell partnership

At 65 for 3, New Zealand were in an awkward position. No group in the 23-T20I history of Belfast had at any point effectively pursued at least 140, and with three early wickets gone, maybe Ireland would at long last get a success against the guests.

Finn Allen was quick to go for 14, out to a yorker from Craig Young in the second over. Dane Cleaver before long followed him for 5 when his draw off Josh Little couldn’t clear the outfielder in the profound. What’s more, Martin Guptill – who offered the full essence of the bat to make light of a few great lobbed shots the ground – was out for a 19-ball 25 while attempting to clear George Dockrell and just dealing with a top-edge to short fine leg.

At that stage, New Zealand required a recovery job, and Phillips and Mitchell furnished that by playing with the elements of the field. They struck only two limits from overs 8 to 13, and made light of hazard free cricket to carry the condition to 70 out of seven overs.

Preview

Ireland vs New Zealand: The second T20I turned out to be a bit of an anti-climax to what is a wonderful set of games. Ireland finally cracked as they failed to compete in a chase, getting bowled out for 91. New Zealand though continue to find youngsters with Cleaver and Bracewell impressing. Both sides are bringing out some wonderful talent in this series. Each game is giving an insight into what’s in store for the future. With bigger assignments ahead, both teams will want to head out on a high, giving their young talent one more go.

Match Details

Match: Ireland vs New Zealand

Date: 20th July 2022

Time: 8:30 PM IST

Venue: Malahide, Dublin

Weather Report

The weather in Dublin is fine with little chance of rain during the Ireland vs New Zealand T20I

Pitch Report

The track is flat and the boundaries are small. In the first game, run-scoring was easy after the first few overs and batting second is a better option.

Ireland vs New Zealand Predicted Playing XI

Ireland Playing XI

Andy Balbairne(c), Stephen Doheny, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Paul Stirling, Goerge Dockrell, Simi Singh, Lorcan Tucker(wk), Craig Young, Josh Little, Mark Adnair

New Zealand Playing XI

Martin Guptill, Dane Cleaver, Michael Bracewell, Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner

Key Players

Dane Cleaver

Dane Cleaver is the next New Zealand youngster to come out and put his hand up. His 78 was very commanding and his strokes, look brilliant. With his wicket-keeping as an additional bonus, the knock gives him a strong chance of getting more opportunities in the side.

Josh Little

Josh Little was the only one to show some fight. With his pace and line he managed two wickets to peg New Zealand back a touch and prevent them from getting two far away. Additionally, At 22, he continues to be a massive potential for the future and with one more game to go he will want to play well and gain a lot of confidence. He still has a lot more games ahead and will be waiting to go.

See Also: England vs India 2nd ODI Match Prediction – Cricket Winner

Ireland vs New Zealand Match Tips

Ireland has been bought back to place in the second T20I. Whether they fight back from a setback is to be seen, but for now it is New Zealand all the way in this last fixture. Either way, the last fixture caps off what is a memorable series.

Match Prediction: New Zealand will win the match

Paul Stirling and Harry Tector centuries went in vain 

Paul Stirling and Harry Tector centuries went to no end as New Zealand crushed Ireland by one run in the third ODI at the Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin.

Pursuing a total of 361, Ireland were confined to a total of 359 for nine of every 50 overs, although Stirling and Tector scored 120 and 108, individually. Prior, Martin Guptill scored a splendid 115 as New Zealand posted a total of 360 for six of every 50 overs.

New Zealand have previously acquired an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after winning the first two ODIs. Both matches have been close experiences and Ireland have come to enrol in a triumph. The two sides expected to put on a display for the fans in the last ODI.

Prior to the game, Tom Latham won the toss and on a flat pitch chose to bat first. This choice ended up being positive as the Kiwi openers were starting off on an absolute lightning-quick foot. New Zealand, riding on a great ton by Martin Guptill and a breaking knock by Henry Nicholls proceeded to post a mammoth total of 360 runs.

The Irish bowlers were completely washed and without the services of strike bowler Mark Adair it was continuously going to be hard for them. The wicket was perfect for batting and the hosts came out all weapons blazing and reached a point where they were ahead of the pursuit yet the Kiwi bowlers got the wickets towards the end which broke the Irish energy and New Zealand proceeded to win the ODI series 3-0.

Martin Guptill (115 off 126 balls) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his game dominating shot. He says that it has been a thrilling series and it has been an incredible spectacle for the crowd.

Michael Bracewell is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for his splendid commitment with both bat and ball. He says that it has been an astounding series and applauds Ireland for the manner in which they have played in this series and adds that every one of the three games would have been gone one way or the other.

Ireland have played some splendid cricket yet tragically, have nothing to show for it.

Ireland will imagine that cricket is a savage game as within a span of seven days, they have had two disastrous losses which cost them the series as well as pivotal World Cup Super League points too. The captain faltered again and yet his opening partner Paul Stirling was at his overwhelming best.

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Alongside upcoming Irish superstar Harry Tector added on 179 runs for the third wicket and got the hosts in a place of commitment. Nonetheless, when Stirling got out for 120, Tector took a touch of time getting to his ton and afterward lost his wicket. The tailenders gave a couple of hearty blows yet not one of them just held tight till the end which ended up being the difference between the two sides.

Preview

Ireland vs New Zealand: Ireland has some exciting talent in their ranks. They came close in the second T20I against India, showing their batting might. Now, they take on New Zealand in a format where they have had more success in before. Both sides have faced off in the past, with New Zealand getting some huge victories. New Zealand though, are coming in off a poor Test series and will want something to smile about quickly.

Match Details

Match: Ireland vs New Zealand

Date: 10th July 2022

Time: 3:15 PM IST

Venue: The Village, Malahide, Dublin

Weather Report

The weather is clear for the first Ireland vs New Zealand ODI with no chance of rain.

Pitch Report

The pitch is likely to be flat and with small boundaries batting second is a better option.

Ireland vs New Zealand Predicted Playing XI

Ireland Playing XI

Andy Balbairne(c), Stephen Doheny, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, Paul Stirling, Goerge Dockrell, Simi Singh, Lorcan Tucker(wk), Craig Young, Josh Little, Mark Adnair

New Zealand Playing XI

Martin Guptill, Tom Latham(c,wk), Henry Nicholls, Michael Bracewell, Will Young/Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner

Key Players

Harry Tector

Harry Tector was pretty impressive in the recent T20Is against India. Coming to the ODI format, it will be interesting to see what he offers. He certainly has a lot of potentials and if he can convert his talent to big scores Ireland will have a massive player for the future.

Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill is off late and has been restricted solely to the ODI format. It is a format in which he has a lot of success and some wonderful records including a double-hundred. However, the gaps between games may seem a little too long. With Guptill last representing New Zealand in April, there has been a gap, and that could bring him under the scanner, given that he is not a member of the side in other formats. With only one format left for him, Guptill will have to be as consistent as possible.

See Also: MS Dhoni Proving He is a Boss off the Field – Cricket Winner

Ireland vs New Zealand Match Tips

Both sides have played each other in the past and the results favor New Zealand. Given the quality and player caliber as well, New Zealand is ahead.

Match Prediction: New Zealand will win the match.