IRE vs NZ Match Prediction, 1st T20I – Who will win today’s match between Ireland and New Zealand?
New Zealand would be hoping to showcase an improved performance in the first T20I.
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After a power-packed ODI series, the action shifts to the shortest format as Ireland and New Zealand will be locking horns in the first T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast on Monday, July 18. After suffering a 0-3 whitewash in the just-concluded ODI series in an agonizing manner, the Irish team would be hoping for a revival in fortunes in the T20I series.
In what was an evenly-contested ODI series, Ireland fell short on all three occasions despite being in a position of strength. Two of those were high-scoring thrillers where runs in excess of 300 were scored. New Zealand, on the other hand, were not up to the mark with the ball in the first and third game and the top-order batting remained inconsistent as well. It was courtesy of middle-order sensation Michael Bracewell that they succeeded in winning the first two matches.
IRE vs NZ Match Details:
Venue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Date & Time: July 18, 2022, at 8:30 PM IST
Live Streaming: FanCode App
IRE vs NZ Pitch Report:
The Belfast wicket is expected to be favorable for both batting and bowling. However, the batters have a better chance of capitalizing on the surface once they are well set in the middle and a run fest looks pretty much on the cards. The pacers and spinners need to bowl in the right areas in order to get breakthroughs at regular intervals. Therefore, the captain winning the toss will look to bowl first.
Ireland vs New Zealand, 1st T20 Probable Playing XI
Ireland:
Andrew Balbirnie (c), Paul Stirling, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Harry Tector, George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Barry McCarthy, Curtis Campher, Craig Young, Joshua Little
New Zealand:
Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears
IRE vs NZ, 1st T20I Probable Top Performers
Probable best batter of the match
Martin Guptill:
Senior opener Martin Guptill scored a match-winning 115 in the third ODI. While he might not be scoring consistently for a while, it is to be noted that Guptill is currently the 11th-ranked batter in T20Is having amassed 3,299 runs from 112 matches. He has a very good opportunity to surpass Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and become the top run-getter in this format. He just needs 81 runs to do it. The Irish bowlers must chalk out a plan to get rid of him early on.
Probable best bowler of the match
Mark Adair:
Mark Adair would be expected to do some damage with the ball in hand. The tall pacer has so far made 41 T20I appearances for Ireland at the highest level and registered 62 scalps to his name at an economy of 7.16. Adair can be very lethal and has the potential of dismantling any batting line-up. With an impressive record in the shortest format, the New Zealand batters would be hoping to resort to a cautious approach against Mark Adair in the first T20I.
Todays’ Match Prediction: New Zealand to win the match
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Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.
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