Cricket - Ireland well beaten by New Zealand
Ireland's disappointing Walton T20 Tri Series ended in another defeat at a cold and blustery Malahide this afternoon as New Zealand inflicted a 190-run verdict over John Bracewell's charges- the hosts' third reverse in four tournament games.
It's a result that sees the Kiwis claim the competition outright with their final match against Bangladesh still to play on Wednesday at Clontarf (10:45am).
Chasing an unlikely 345 to win, William Porterfield's side were rarely in the hunt here despite a half century stand for the second wicket between the skipper and Ed Joyce (17).
That apart, the batting line-up failed to fire; Porterfield hitting 48 (5 fours and a six) while Gary Wilson resisted best of the rest with 30. George Dockrell (16) and final wicket pair of Barry McCarthy (16*) and Peter Chase (14) were the only others to reach double figures against a rampant New Zealand attack.
Matt Henry (3-36) led the line really well with Corey Anderson - just back from the IPL - (2-15) and Scott Kuggeleijn (2-17) also impressing.
The Black Caps mammoth total came courtesy of another solid all-round batting display with Tom Latham leading the way making a superb century. The New Zealand skipper hit 9 fours and 4 sixes in his knock; surviving a superb catch by Barry McCarthy when on 89 after bowler Craig Young had overstepped.
It mattered little however- Luke Ronchi set the tone early on with 7 fours in his 31 before being bowled by Young as the openers took 70 from the first 10 overs. Next man in Neil Broom made 38 before Latham and Ross Taylor added 67 more for the third as the runs flowed.
The Kiwi captain's stay was finally ended by George Dockrell- stumped by Niall O'Brien for an excellent 104, but even then the tourists weren't finished. Taylor made 57 (6 fours) before falling to Barry McCarthy before Colin Munro added a 15-ball 44 (3 fours, 4 sixes) and Mitchell Santner chipped in with a quick unbeaten 20 off 9.
In total 72 runs came in the last four overs but ironically one of the positives Ireland will take from the game will be their fielding which was top notch throughout.
Peter Chase (2-69) and Craig Young (2-82) stuck at it for the home side but the pick of the bowlers was Simi Singh whose 10 overs went for just 38- a resounding moral victory in the circumstances for the YMCA and Leinster Lightning man.
There is much work to be done for Bracewell and his backroom team between now and the end of the summer when Ireland are next in action- that an Intercontinental Cup clash with The Netherlands in August, also at Malahide.
Walton Tri-Nations Series, At Malahide, Ireland lost to New Zealand by 190 runs
New Zealand 344-6 (50 overs; T Latham 104, R Taylor 57, C Munro 44, N Broom 38, L Ronchi 31, M Santner 20*, P Chase 2-69, C Young 2-82)
Ireland 154 all out (39.3 overs; W Porterfield 48, G Wilson 30, M Henry 3-36, C Anderson 2-15, S Kuggeleijn 2-17)