Ireland and New Zealand meet again in this first T20I match after a thrilling three-match ODI series that the visitors won 3-0. Ireland has lost in this format to India and in ODIs to New Zealand, but they have been competitive. The Black Caps will be pleased with their ODI results, but they will want to improve. Continue reading for a preview of the series’ first game. On Monday afternoon, the first T20I begins at 16:00 local time in Stormont.
Ireland has been far too good for the lesser sides in previous formats, but has struggled in this format against the stronger teams. They will, however, believe that they can get something out of this match.
Daryl Mitchell, who has been excellent for New Zealand in this format and carries good form from the Test series in England, returns. He could mean the difference between a close victory and a comfortable victory.
Ireland vs New Zealand
Match Details to Note
Match: Ireland vs New Zealand, 1st T20I, New Zealand Tour of Ireland 2022
Date: July 18, 2022 (Monday)
Time: 8:30 PM IST
Venue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast
Ireland Team News:
The home team pushed New Zealand all the way in the ODIs, and we expect them to be just as strong in this series. They came within four runs of defeating India in their last T20I, eventually losing by four runs, and is fortunate not to have any injuries or player unavailability.
Ireland Squad
Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Graham Hume, Joshua Little, Andy McBrine, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young
Players to watch out for:
Paul Stirling
The short right-handed opener performed admirably in the final ODI. He hit 19 boundaries and scored 120 runs off 103 balls.
Andy Balbirnie
The Irish captain had a single-figure score in all three ODIs. In the second T20I against India, he scored 60 runs off 37 balls.
Josh Little
The 22-year-old left-arm quick picked up two wickets against India in his last T20I at the end of June. Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav were fired.
Possible Playing XI:
Andrew Balbirnie (c), Paul Stirling, Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Craig Young, Joshua Little, Conor Olphert
Ireland Team Form
Ireland has been defeated in their last three Twenty20 Internationals. Their most recent victory in this format came in February of this year against Oman.
New Zealand Team News:
Mitchell Santner, a spinner, will captain the team in this series, leading an experienced squad. Although some of New Zealand’s biggest names are missing, as in the ODI series, the Black Caps still have Martin Guptill and Lockie Ferguson available, as well as other form players.
New Zealand Squad
Tom Latham, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Dane Cleaver, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young
Players to watch out for:
Martin Guptill
The vastly experienced New Zealand opener scored 115 in the series’ final one-day international on Friday. In the previous T20I between the two teams, he scored 45 not out.
Daryl Mitchell
The batting all-rounder has already set a number of records this summer, having scored three tons and two half-centuries in the Test series in England.
Lockie Ferguson
Despite his 0-60 in the third ODI, the right-arm pace bowler has been an excellent T20 performer over the last 18 months.
Possible Playing XI:
Mitchell Santner (c), Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, Darryl Mitchell, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver (wk), Jacob Duffy
New Zealand Team Form
New Zealand has now lost four consecutive games in this format. The losing streak started with a loss in the 2021 T20 World Cup Final.
Ireland vs New Zealand Top Team Batsmen:
Our batting picks for Ireland are Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie, and Harry Tector. Tector hit two centuries in the ODI series and went 64 not out against India last month.
For New Zealand, we recommend Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, and Daryl Mitchell at bat. Allen scored 93 runs in his last two One-Day Internationals earlier this month.
Ireland vs New Zealand Top Team Bowlers:
Our bowling picks for Ireland are Josh Little, Mark Adair, and Craig Young. During the ODI series, Young took a wicket in each of New Zealand’s innings.
Blair Tickner, Lockie Ferguson, and Mitchell Santner are our picks for the ball in New Zealand. Santner frequently slows the run-rate and then takes wickets as the players lose concentration.
Ireland vs New Zealand Head to Head
Ireland and New Zealand will meet in a Twenty20 International for the first time. During the 2009 T20 World Cup, New Zealand defeated Australia by 83 runs at Trent Bridge.
Ireland vs New Zealand Head to Head Stats in T20I
| Matches Played | IRE Won | NZ Won | Draw | Tie | |
| Overall | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Last 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Ireland vs New Zealand Toss Prediction
In the ODI series, New Zealand won all three tosses. They chose to bowl first in two of the games, and we expect both captains to do so in this match.
Ireland vs New Zealand Pitch Report
The pitch in Belfast is always better suited to swing and seam bowling than spin. Because of the small boundaries at this venue, we anticipate a high scoring game.
Humidity levels will rise throughout the game, peaking at 70% near the end.
Ireland vs New Zealand Prediction
This game is expected to be extremely close, and we anticipate some fantastic entertainment from these two teams. Ireland enters the game without a win in their last two games, but they have come very close to pulling off an upset. However, we believe New Zealand will have had enough and will win again.
