New Zealand became the first team to qualify in the semifinals of the 8th edition of the T20 world cup with 35 run win over Ireland. Kane Williamson returned to form with a fine of 61 off 35. Batting first, New Zealand posted 185 after a loss of six wickets.
In reply, the Irish team could only score 150 in 20 overs. Ireland had a great start with openers adding 68 runs together but after that, all the wickets fell like a pack of cards.
Kiwi speedster Lockie Ferguson was the highest wicket-taker scalping three Irish batters. Paul Stirling was the highest scorer for Ireland with 37 runs.
New Zealand Innings
Williamson scored 61 off 35 deliveries(AFP/Getty Images)
Ireland won the toss and Balbirnie invited New Zealand to bat first. The kiwi team started slowly as the Ireland bowler held their line and length well in the first three overs. After that Finn Allen changed his gears and smacked three consecutive fours on the spinner Delany.
In Adair’s over, Allen hit a four and a six but gave his wicket on outside off delivery. The next four-five overs we slow as Conway wasn’t able to connect and Williamson as usual took his time at the start.
In the tenth over, Williamson hit Fion Hand for four and then Conway smacked him for four and six.
From 30 of 23, he reached his 50 in 32 balls, the same number of balls he took in the 2021 world cup final.
Josh Little’s little moment of magic
In the last few overs, New Zealand lost several wickets and they weren’t able to slog in the business end of the innings. At the beginning of the 19th over, the Kiwi team was in a good position with 174 losing just 3 wickets. However, Josh Little‘s over stopped them to accelerate further.
Little became just the second Irish bowler after Curtis Campher to take a T20i hat trick. He also became the second bowler to take a hat trick in this year’s edition of the t20 world cup. First was Kartik Mayappan.
Josh Little took the hat trick(AFP/Getty Images)
Little’s first victim was set Williamson, who tried to pull a shorter delivery. The fielder at the fine leg found him. The next one was James Neesham who tried to hit the long ball on the leg side but the ball kept low and hit his pads in front of the wickets.
Little finished the tournament with 11 wickets. He must have grabbed the eyeballs of IPL franchise owners and can be expected to go for big bucks next year.
Ireland’s Innings: Good start
Ireland started very well to chase 185. The experienced openers Paul Stirling and Balbirnie got Ireland off to a great start. Though the first six overs brought only 39 runs, the Irish team didn’t lose a wicket.
When skipper Kane brought spinners, Stirling began to change gears.
Stirling-Balbirnie had a good opening stand of 68 runs for Ireland(Getty)
Firstly he smacked a four and a six the Santner’s first over, and then skipper Balbirnie smoked two sixes of Sodhi’s over. The spin duo leaked 29 runs together in two overs.
However, now it was Santner’s turn to change the course of the river. He brought back the momentum in New Zealand’s favour in the 9th over when his slower delivery in the air bluffed Balbirnie. He was gone on the first delivery.
Sodhi then dismissed Stirling with a slow googly at the beginning of his second over. Now, the young Irish star Harry Tectorgave a loopy catch to the point on a slow delivery by Santner. Sodhi and Santner in their last five overs together gave just 29 runs scalping three wickets.
Ireland never got the momentum again and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Dockrell did show some fight but wasn’t enough. Ireland bowed out with a score of 150 with a loss of 9 wickets in their last match in this edition of the t20 world cup.
Skipper Balbirnie said that the “guys” played well and his team was happy with the effort We have been happy with the effort.
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