New Zealand 187-5 (20 overs) ( J Ryder 64, M Guptil 50, R Nicol 31, D Vettori 18*, G Dockrell 3-24, P Stirling 1-24, K O’Brien 1-27) beat Ireland 147/9 (19.4 overs) (W Porterfield 34, G Wilson 31, K O’Brien 28, T Johnston 16, N McCullum 3-25, I Butler 1-7, T Southee 1-11, K Mills 1-15, J Oram 1-17, S Styris 1-31) by 40 runs.
Ryder was at his belligerent best, striking five sixes and the same number of fours, as he raced to 64 from just 34 deliveries. He had his moments of fortune along the way, being dropped on 36 by Kevin O’Brien off his own bowling, although the opportunity was far from easy. O’Brien also caught Ryder from a free hit after Peter Connell overstepped.
Ryder was particularly severe on Trent Johnston, striking him for three successive sixes, as he piled on the agony on his former team mates. Ryder of course had an abbreviated stint as an overseas player with Ireland in the Friends Provident Trophy in 2007.
Ryder and Rob Nicol (31) shared an opening stand of 104 in just 9.2 overs, and a total well in excess of 200 looked a distinct possibility. The introduction of spin at both ends had the desired effect, with Ryder being bowled by Paul Stirling with just his second delivery. Nicol departed just five balls later, sweeping George Dockrell straight o Stirling at deep square leg.
Nicol’s innings was far from fluid, suffering perhaps from comparison with the crowd pleasing Ryder. He survived two confident appeals for a stumping and a catch behind while in single figures, Trent Johnston the unlucky bowler.
17 year old Dockrell bowled superbly taking 3 for 24 in his spell – his other victims being Scott Styris and Gareth Hopkins. Martin Guptill gave the New Zealand innings some late impetus striking a fine half century from just 37 balls (3 sixes, 3 fours), and together with Daniel Vettori (18*), helped New Zealand finish on 187-5.
Ireland’s reply got off to a dreadful start with the powerful Paul Stirling dismissed for 0, bowled by Nathan McCullum in the first over. Niall O’Brien struck two boundaries in his short stay – one of which was a reverse swept six, targeting the short boundary on the West side of the ground. McCullum however got his revenge almost instantly, as O’Brien was stumped by Hopkins looking to force the pace.
Skipper William Portefield (34) and Gary Wilson (31) added 63 in 8.1 overs, playing some lovely shots around the ground, in conjunction with typically energetic running.
Both were severe on Black Caps skipper Daniel Vettori who conceded an uncharacteristic 33 in just three overs.
McCullum (3-25) showed there was indeed something in it for the spinners, and also got in on the act on the outfield, catching John Mooney at long off, and brilliantly running out Kevin O’Brien (28).
O’Brien had looked very assured in his innings, striking Styris for a huge six, and a lofted cover drive to the boundary was probably the shot of the day on either side.
Trent Johnston (16) smashed two huge sixes before becoming Hopkin’s third stumping of the day.
In the end Ireland fell 40 runs short on 147 for 9, although there were two balls of their innings unused. Confusion on the main scoreboard meant umpires Billy Doctrove and Asad Rauf thought Ireland were all out , instead of nine down. That denied Peter Connell the opportunity to face the country of his birth, as amidst confusing scenes, he was waved off the field of play by the umpires.
Ireland are next in action tomorrow (Wednesday) when they face Afghanistan in their final warm up game.
