New Zealand kick – started their super eight campaigns, with a comprehensive victory, over Ireland, to derive much needed points and momentum, which would be slotted, against competitive test playing nations after this.
New Zealand, which has been plagued ,by injuries had some reason to smile, where Redmond who just flown into England, as a cover for the injury of Jesse Ryder, hit the fastest fifty in this format of game for New Zealand in twenty three balls and announced that injuries can sometimes prove, to be blessing in disguise.
Redmond was in red – hot form, which did not deter him from going for big hits even after the early loss of Brendon Mc Cullum. Guptil showed enough reasons, why the twenty two year old is regarded, as a great prospect for New Zealand with his array of spanking drives, which left Ireland bowlers rattled and enervated.
Scott Styris combined well with Guptil, to stage a late order assault, where veteran cricketer matched Guptil ferocity and intent ball by ball, to take New Zealand to their highest total of one ninety eight runs in this format of the game.
Mc Callan and Cussack secured two wickets for Ireland, but they looked feeble when placed parallel to strong batting line- up, which has plenty of all – rounders in it. Even though victory against Ireland is quite anticipated, for Ireland, but the manner they secured the win against the team speaks volume about New Zeeland credentials.
Set to chase improbable one ninety eight runs, Ireland had the worst possible start losing Porterfield early, when score was just one run and Kyle Mills along with James Franklin, ,who returned to the team after the injury bowled with great precision to afford any comfort for Irish batsmen.
Biggest disappointment has been the failure of Kevin O Brein and Neil O Brein, who have been the people of crisis for Ireland, but they succumbed to some good bowling of New Zealand, to make sure that there is no late twists and turn in the tale.
For New Zealad, Nathan Mc Cullum has been the stand- out bowler and he has filled the void of loss of Vettori with some furious spin bowling admiringly, which has taken teams puzzled. He secured three wickets, in his three over spell, to hand over a comprehensive victory, for his team. Redmond was named the man of match for his spanking half- century in his debut, which set the tone for rest of team.
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