New Zealand continued their successful run in the Super 12 stage of the T20 Cricket World Cup as they beat Ireland by 35 runs at the Adelaide Oval yesterday to come within striking distance of a slot in the semi finals.
Batting first New Zealand did not put a foot wrong as they piled up 185 for 6 in the allotted 50 overs after openers Finn Allen and Devon Conway smashed 52 runs in the first six power play overs to set the course for their win.
Ireland got nowhere near the target and were never able to threaten the New Zealand bowlers as they lost wickets at regular intervals to be restricted to 150 for 9 in the 20 overs.
Fast bowler Tim Southee like he always does bowled effectively well to keep New Zealand in the game from the start as he finished with two wickets for 29 runs from his four overs.
Even though the Ireland openers Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie stayed together for eight overs picking 68 runs for the first wicket, they were never within the asking run-rate and once the pair was separated when spinner Mitchell Santner bowled Balbirnie, the Irish had no hope of staging a comeback as the wickets fell at regular intervals. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson ensured that Ireland’s middle order were not able to lift their heads as he plucked three crucial wickets to finish with 3 for 22.
In setting the target New Zealand opener Finn Allen was the more aggressive of the two as he hit 32 in just 18 balls with five fours and one six while Devon Conway made 28 in 33 balls with two fours.
But it was New Zealand captain Kane Williamson who smacked the Irish bowlers to all corners of field and over it as he top scored with 61 in 35 balls hitting three sixes to add to his five fours while Daryl Mithell made an unbeaten 31.
In hindsight a hat-trick taken by Ireland fast bowler Josh Little meant very little to them as New Zealand had already run away with the match when his first victim Williamson was out with the total at 174 in the second ball of the 19th over.
Scores:
New Zealand 185 for 6 in 20 overs (Devon Conway 28, Finn Allen 32, Kane Williamson 61, Daryl Mitchell 31 not out, Josh Little 3 for 22, Gareth Delaney 2 for 30)
Ireland 150 for 9 in 20 overs (Paul Stirling 37, Andy Balbirnie 30, George Dockrell 23, Tim Southee 2 for 29, Lockie Ferguson 3 for 22, Mitchell Santner 2 for 26, Ish Sodhi 2 for 31)