IRE vs NZ: Mitchell Santner available for 2nd ODI after recovering from Covid-19

New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner has recovered from Covid-19 and is now available for the second ODI against Ireland, which is set to take place on July 12, Tuesday, in Dublin. The left-arm spinner, who will lead the Kiwis in the T20I leg of the tour, was forced to stay back while his teammates flew out for the tour.

Santner tested positive for Covid-19 on July 3 and missed the first ODI on Sunday, which New Zealand won by one wicket. Their wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham is the skipper for the ODI series, and Santner will take over the reins for the shorter format. He will join the Kiwi camp along with Jacob Duffy, Henry Nicholls and Matt Henry.

“After a delayed arrival due to Covid-19, Mitchell Santner will be available for selection in ODI 2 today at Malahide,” Black Caps wrote on Twitter

Michael Bracewell wins it for the Black Caps in a last-over thriller

In the first ODI, New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first. The hosts lost both their openers, Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie, within seven overs, for 5 and 9 respectively. Andy McBrine, at number three, scored 39 off 58 balls, and Ireland were 86/3 after 20.2 overs.

Harry Tector arrived at number four and scored 113 off 117 balls, bringing up his maiden ODI hundred. Curtis Campher contributed at number five with 43 off 47 balls, and Simi Singh, at number nine, finished the innings with 30 off 19 balls, helping Ireland score 300. Pick of the New Zealand bowlers was fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who finished with figures of two wickets for 44 runs in 10 overs.

During New Zealand’s chase, opener Martin Guptill scored 51, and Glenn Philips, at number six, scored 38. The rest of the Kiwi top order were all dismissed for a score fewer than 25, and New Zealand were at 120 for five wickets after 21.4 overs. Michael Bracewell came in at number seven, scored an unbeaten 127 off 82 balls, and also brought up his maiden ODI ton. 

Bracewell saw off the chase when New Zealand needed 20 off the last over with one wicket in hand, and was also named the Player of the match. There are three ODIs and three T20Is on the Ireland tour, and next in line for the Kiwis is a tour of Scotland for two T20Is and one ODI.