New Zealand and Ireland faced off in the 37th match of the T20 World Cup on Friday. Kane Williamson’s team made a huge target by batting first in that match. But chasing that target, Ireland could not reach the target as the scheduled 20 overs ended. Their journey ended up in the World Cup with just 1 win out of 5 matches in the super-12. At the same time, Captain Kane Williamson won the man of the match title by batting brilliantly for New Zealand.
Played hard at first, then set and hit hard. Kane Williamson played the important role of captain with great intelligence. New Zealand made a huge collection of 185 runs for 6 wickets based on his quick fifty. Ireland needed 186 to win.
Finn Allen got off to an astounding start after losing the toss to bat in Adelaide. The Kiwi opener returned to the dressing room with a storm of 32 runs off 18 balls. In the power play, New Zealand made 52 for 1 in 6 overs.
Another opener, Devon Conway, was much slower. He was dismissed for 28 runs off 33 balls. However, New Zealand scored 100 runs in the 12th over.
Glenn Phillips started hitting when he came down to bat at the wicket. But he had to return with 17 off 7 balls. But the Irish couldn’t stop Kane Williamson. The Kiwi skipper continued to hold an edge and play with responsibility. He made his fifty off 32 balls, that too with a six. Williamson got out in the 19th over. His innings of 61 runs were arranged in 35 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes.
Irish pacer Josh Little made a great hat-trick by trapping James Neesham and Mitchell Santner in LBW in the next two balls of that over. This is the second hat trick in this year’s T20 World Cup. Besides, Daryl Mitchell remained unbeaten on 31 runs off 21 balls.
New Zealand can take only 12 runs in the last two overs. Stopped at 185 for 6. Josh Little took 3 wickets for 22 runs. Gareth Delaney took 2 wickets. Mark Adair also took 1 wicket.
The possibility on paper also ended for Ireland. By sending them off, New Zealand has almost confirmed the semi-finals of this year’s T20 World Cup.
Kane Williamson’s team beat Ireland by 35 runs in the Super Twelve match in Adelaide today. They are now at the top of Group One with 7 points. England and Australia also have a chance to get equal points. But the Kiwis are far ahead in run rate.
Chasing the big target of 186 runs, the Irish stopped at 150 runs for 9 wickets. But the team got off to a flying start in the opening pair chasing runs. Paul Sterling and Andy Balbirnie scored 68 runs off 48 balls. After losing three wickets in three consecutive overs, the Irish were knocked out of the match. Balbirnie scored 30 off 25 balls and Sterling scored 37 off 27 and returned to the dressing room. Harry Tector scored only 2.
After that, no one else could benefit as much. George Dockrell played well but got out for 23 off 15 balls. In the end, the Irish stopped at 150 runs for 9 wickets.
Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson took 3 wickets. Besides, Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner, and Ish Sodhi took 2 wickets each.
New Zealand – 185/6 (20.0)
Ireland – 150/9 (20.0)
Result – New Zealand won by 35 runs
Player of the match – Kane Williamson
NZ vs IRE Playing XIs
| NZ | Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway (wk), Glenn Phillips, Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult |
| IRE | Andrew Balbirnie (c), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Paul Stirling, George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, Mark Adair, Gareth Delany, Barry McCarthy, Fionn Hand, Joshua Little |
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