IRE vs NZ 3rd Match, IRE vs NZ 2022

Chasing a mammoth 361 for the win, Ireland lost their out-of-form skipper Andrew Balbirnie for a 5-ball duck. Andy McBrine contributed with 26 off 20 balls in a 55-run stand for the second wicket before McBrine fell to Matt Henry as he picked up both the openers here. It was the Paul Stirling-Harry Tector show from hereon. They put up a magnificent 179-run stand for the third wicket and kept the Irish in the second game. What a return to form for Paul Stirling as he scored a magnificent 120 off 103 balls before falling to Matt Henry again. Gareth Delany came in and scored a quick-fire 22 off 16 balls in a 30-run stand with Tector. Curtis Campher came and gave it away for 5 off 4 balls. Harry Tector was controlling the innings and was batting on 108 off 106 balls before he attempted a reverse sweep and getting himself castled and bringing the Kiwis back in the game. Thereafter, Lorcan Tucker contributed 14 off 15 balls before being dismissed by Santner again. George Dockrell then took matters into his own hands as he smashed 22 off 17 balls with a couple of boundaries to his name. He holed out to Bracewell at long-on to leave the side 8 down for 348 in the 49^th over. Graham Hume was unbeaten on 7 off 11 balls while Craig Young was run-out for 6 off 3 balls. They came so close, but yet so far as they fall short by a single run.  

From New Zealand's point of view, Lockie Ferguson went for 60 runs and went wicketless in his 10 overs. Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers with his 4 wickets for 68 runs in 10 overs. Blair Tickner was expensive in his 10 overs 1 for 71 but he delivered when it mattered by bowling a superb final over. Michael Bracewell went for 51 runs in 7 overs as it was not quite the best day for him. Mitchell Santner was impressive in his 10 overs as he went for 71 runs but picked up 3 wickets. Glenn Phillips chipped in with 3 overs for 22 runs. 20 extras were given by the Kiwis. They dropped three catches did the Kiwis and they almost paid for it. But they scraped through with a 1-run win. 

Earlier in the game, it was the New Zealand skipper Tom Latham who won the toss and opted to bat first on a pitch that looked the best for batting. The Kiwis got off to a blazing start as the Irish bowlers crumbled under pressure as they bowled too short and too full balls. The Kiwi openers Martin Guptill put up 79 runs in the powerplay before Finn Allen was the first to go for 33 off 28 balls. Will Young fall for 3 courtesy of a run-out by Curtis Campher? But it was the Martin Guptill show as his majestic 18^th ODI hundred and his first series set the base for the Black Caps. He scored 115 off 126 balls with 15 fours and 2 sixes to his name. Skipper Tom Latham contributed with 30 off 26 balls. Henry Nicholls contributed with a useful 79 off 54 balls batting at Number 5. Glenn Phillips chipped in with another important contribution as he scored 47 off 30 balls. Towards the end, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner remained unbeaten on 21 off 16 balls and 14 off 10 balls respectively as the Kiwis scored 106 runs off the last ten overs to get up to a massive 360-5 in 50 overs. 18 extras also contributed to the total.

From Ireland’s point of view, Craig Young bowled 8 overs for 56 runs with a wicket to his name. The debutant Hume went for 62 runs in 9 overs and remained wicketless. Joshua Little picked up a couple of wickets but went for 84 runs in his quota of 10 overs. Andy McBrine the skipper bowled 9 overs for 53 runs. Curtis Campher bowled 7 overs for 46 runs alongside a wicket to his name. Gareth Delany also bowled 7 overs for 50 runs and he also had a wicket to his name. 

So, a win by 1 run and crucial WSL points for New Zealand. They get 30 points out of 30 on offer and they climb upwards the table. Ireland tried their best, but it couldn't cross the line when it mattered. Stay tuned for the post-match presentation ceremony coming your way now.