END OF OVER:20 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | IRE: 150/9 (36 runs required, RR: 7.50)
- Josh Little8 (4b)
- Barry McCarthy6 (5b)
- Tim Southee4-0-29-2
- Trent Boult4-0-38-0
That's that! NZ take important points and for Ireland, the tournament ends. But it's not the end of T20 World Cup action for today. Australia take on Afghanistan at the same venue, with Afghanistan fielding first. We are, however, done here. Thanks for joining us today. On behalf of Himanshu and Thilak, this is Ashish signing off.
Andy Balbirnie: We played a top-class team, and were a bit off in the middle and when you play a top-class team you have to capitalise, which we did not after the start we got. We bowled pretty well, but our fielding has been a bit off in the tournament. The guys have played really well. We have been happy with the effort. We caused a couple of upsets, we are playing better cricket than we were in the last 12 months, every one is starting to show their class.
Kane Williamson: A really good team performance which was required. We knew what Ireland were capable of. They have played some stunning cricket. We played to our best and came out well. It [The ball] was just holding in the surface standing up. The openers did a great job to give a good PP. The Guys played well throughout the innings and adjusted nicely. We made those adjustments with the ball in the middle overs. Try and take your options and work with your partner at the other end. One's going and the other one is trying to make the adjustments. [On the spinners] We spoke about that. It was just about bowling a little bit slower and adjust your line. They made the adjustment beautifully and pulled the game back.
6pm Another solid performance from the Blackcaps who seem to always bring their A-game in World Cups. It was Kane Williamson's turn to silence the doubters today with a solid half-century as New Zealand racked up 185 for 6 despite a Josh Little hat-trick. The chase would always be tricky but Ireland got off to a good start with Stirling and Balbirnie adding 68 for the opening wicket. However, once spin was introduced things turned. Both Santner and Sodhi went for plenty in their first overs, but came back strong. They slowed things down, pulled their lengths back and reaped the rewards. In the end, the target was too out of reach for the Irish. NZ take the points and are so close to nailing that semi-final spot.
5.53pm Kane Williamson is the Player of the Match: The guys were brilliant in negating the new ball and give us a good start. It was a very competitive total. The guys with the ball adjusted nicely, the spinners came in, and they did their job. [His innings] Similar to building some partnerships and it was nice to get a bit of momentum. It was nice. Good team effort. Ireland have been playing beautifully and it is nice to get a win.
Vinay: "Assuming Eng and Aus win, what should be their margins of victory to overhaul NZ NRR?" Aus need to win by around 185 runs to go past NZ. Eng need to win by around 128.
Sampath says, New Zealand will be through if Afghanistan bat first
KW Fan: "Missed innings of Kane today but it has made my day. That will silence the doubters and regain KW confidence in upcoming bigger games."
MR Adair c Phillips b Southee 4 (9m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 80.00
END OF OVER:19 | 8 Runs | IRE: 141/8 (45 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.42, RRR: 45.00)
- Mark Adair4 (4b)
- Barry McCarthy5 (4b)
- Trent Boult4-0-38-0
- Lockie Ferguson4-0-22-3
Boult back on
END OF OVER:18 | 7 Runs 2 Wkts | IRE: 133/8 (53 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.38, RRR: 26.50)
- Barry McCarthy1 (1b)
- Mark Adair1 (1b)
- Lockie Ferguson4-0-22-3
- Tim Southee3-0-20-1
Rohit: "Have Ireland under used Campher throughout this WC? Haven't bowled him much, batting at 7! Surely could've given him a bit more of an opportunity seen what he's done in the past!"
McCarthy in now
GH Dockrell c Williamson b Ferguson 23 (24m 15b 3x4 0x6) SR: 153.33
Mark Adair in now
F Hand c & b Ferguson 5 (7m 3b 1x4 0x6) SR: 166.66
END OF OVER:17 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | IRE: 126/6 (60 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.41, RRR: 20.00)
- Fionn Hand5 (2b)
- George Dockrell18 (12b)
- Tim Southee3-0-20-1
- Trent Boult3-0-31-0
SACHU: "0-29 in first 2 overs of spin 4-28 in the other 6 overs of spin. Wow! What a comeback"
Amit: "Australia have big boundaries if a spinner bowl slower through the air it's very very difficult to score boundaries."
Hand comes in