IRE vs NZ: Michael Bracewell's all-round show trumps Ireland yet again as New Zealand seal series

DUBLIN – Ireland pushed New Zealand hard in the second ODI, but the visitors squeezed over the line with three wickets in hand. George Dockrell’s ODI-best of 74 off 61 balls rescued the hosts after a top-order wobble, but half-centuries from Finn Allen and Tom Latham, and an unbeaten 42 from Michael Bracewell secured a victory for New Zealand with more than 10 overs to spare.

Ireland endured a difficult start with the bat, losing Paul Stirling in the opening over after Matt Henry pinned the right-hander LBW for a duck. There was no respite from New Zealand’s opening bowlers, as the innings began with three maidens before Henry struck again in the fifth over, bowling Andrew Balbirnie after the captain misjudged a leave.

Harry Tector and Andrew McBrine had to withstand further pressure from Henry and Jacob Duffy, with Ireland restricted to 19-2 after 10 overs. McBrine then began to find his groove, taking 12 runs off Henry’s sixth over, but Tector fell for 4 off 25; looking to take the attack to Bracewell, Tector holed out from the off-spinner’s third ball of the day.

Bracewell picked up the next wicket, too, when McBrine was stumped by Latham for 28 in the 19th over, and on a turning wicket Mitchell Santner took control of the other end as spin became the way to go. While Curtis Campher advanced to 25, Santner used flight and a sharp turn to find the outside edge and gift a catch to slip.

At 85-5 after 28 overs Ireland were in trouble, but Dockrell fought back with an enterprising innings. Regularly shuffling across his crease – he was particularly adept at opening up the off side against Henry and Duffy – Ireland’s No. 7 moved to his third half-century in ODI cricket off just 48 balls, putting aside the loss of Lorcan Tucker for 19 to keep his side ticking over.

Dockrell then upped the ante after reaching his half-century, hitting Blair Tickner for three fours off three consecutive legitimate deliveries in the 43rd over, before kicking off the 44th with a straight six off Santner. But Duffy struck in the next over to end Dockrell’s innings on 74, and while wickets tumbled to end Ireland’s innings prematurely, a fine cameo from Mark Adair (27* off 15) took Ireland to a final total of 216, a good recovery considering where they had stood prior to Dockrell’s arrival.

Then came the perfect start with the ball as Adair transferred his excellence with the bat to ball. Martin Guptill was yorked from the first ball of the innings, and Adair went full and straight with the next delivery to send Will Young back for a first-baller.

But New Zealand bounced back courtesy of a fine innings from Finn Allen, the 23-year-old at one stage taking 18 off four Adair deliveries on his way to his maiden ODI half-century. New Zealand reached 100 in the 17th over, but that same over saw Allen depart, Campher the bowler to strike.

Campher was responsible for the dismissal of Henry Nicholls, too, launching a direct hit to have the left-hander run out for 17 in the 25th over and the scares continued for the Black Caps. Craig Young returned for his second spell and struck with his second ball, getting Glenn Phillips to drag the ball onto his stumps for 16 and Simi Singh trapped Latham LBW on 55 with 40 runs still required. Singh struck again to dismiss Santner in the 37th over, but Bracewell – New Zealand’s hero from the first ODI – took the visitors over the line.

Brief Scores:

Ireland 216 (48 overs; G Dockrell 74, M Adair 27*; M Bracewell 2-26)

New Zealand 219-7 (38.1 overs; F Allen 60*, T Latham 55; M Adair 2-29)

New Zealand won by 3 wickets