Ireland vs New Zealand, IRE vs NZ, Today Match Prediction

ire vs nz Match Prediction & Analysis

Ireland would be fighting for survival as they take on New Zealand in the second game of the 3-match series. The hosts did have New Zealand under pressure in the last game at the start, but they couldn’t hold onto the advantage and lost the game by 31 runs. The Irish team would like to avoid another poor show and surrender the series to the Kiwis without giving a fight.  

The Irish side has lost all the four games they have played against New Zealand in this series, and this would affect their confidence. Their top order hasn’t offered good starts which is a major problem for the side. New Zealand has momentum, and the hosts would have to come up with a special performance in the game to level the series. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Ireland Preview

Andrew Balbirnie’s side suffered yet another loss as they failed to grab the initiative. Inconsistency in the top order and the lack of killer instincts among the bowlers have hurt the side in this series. As they get into another series-saving contest, Balbirnie would like his players to show fighting spirit in the game and level the series.  

Paul Stirling and Balbirnie are key players for the team, and they must put up a big opening wicket stand in this game. Gareth Delany and Harry Tector are good hitters of the ball, and the side would like them to build partnerships in the middle order. Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker, George Dockrell, and Mark Adair played good knocks in the last game, and they would look to do well down the order.  

Mark Adair was expensive in the last game, and he will need to provide good support to Craig Young with the new ball. Joshua Little has troubled the New Zealanders in this series and the side would want him to excel in this game. Barry McCarthy, Dockrell, and Campher need to do well in the supporting role for the side to win.

Ireland Predicted Playing XI:

Andrew Balbirnie (c), Paul Stirling, Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, Joshua Little

Ireland Actual Playing XI:

Mark Adair, Craig Young, Curtis Campher, Joshua Little, Paul Stirling, Barry McCarthy, George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker, Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Andy Balbirnie

New Zealand Preview

Mitchell Santner’s side started the 3-match series with a win and the New Zealand skipper would be happy with the performance of his bowlers in the last game. However, he would like to see a better show from his batsmen in this game as the top order failed in the last game. Their opponents would be under pressure and Santner shall look to make the best out of it.  

The side would expect a good show from Martin Guptill and Finn Allen in this game as both these players are good hitters of the ball. Glenn Phillips played an important knock in the last game, and he would look to add runs with Daryll Mitchell and Dane Cleaver who missed out. The side bats deep and has good hitters of the ball in James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, and Santner are good finishers and they add to the side’s batting strength.  

Lockie Ferguson was brilliant with the new ball in the last game, and he would look to trouble Ireland’s top order along with Jacob Duffy. Neesham and Santner bowled well in the middle overs of the last game, and this would to their confidence. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell bowled wayward lines and the Kiwis would expect them to hit the right areas in this contest. 

New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:

Mitchell Santner (c), Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, Dane Cleaver (wk), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy

New Zealand Actual Playing XI:

Mitchell Santner, Dane Cleaver, Jacob Duffy, Daryl Mitchell, Martin Guptill, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, James Neesham

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It would be partly cloudy skies over Belfast on July 20. We expect to see a flat surface like we had seen in the last game, and it is expected to be a high-scoring contest. The ball would move in the initial overs, but batsmen would enjoy batting on this surface. A score of 170 runs would be a good total to defend on this surface.

Venue Details

Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast is a small ground and has shorter boundaries. This makes it a good venue for batsmen who like playing their strokes. There is some juice on the surface in the early overs of the game where fast bowlers do well. Spinners don’t get much help from the conditions and have to rely on their variations.

Toss: To Bat

It was an excellent surface to bat on in the last game and we saw the wicket get slower in the second innings. In the last five games played here, the sides batting first have won all the games. Hence, the side that wins the toss here would opt to bat first and set up a big score on the board.