Ireland vs New Zealand: New Zealand beat Ireland in a dramatic last-ball Thriller

In the third one-day international on Friday in Dublin, New Zealand held off a record-breaking Ireland flurry fueled by centuries from Paul Stirling and Harry Tector to win by a narrow one-run margin. The captain of Ireland, Andy Balbirnie, commented, “It was a wonderful game.” It was excellent, albeit a terrible thing to stomach. Following Martin Guptill’s century, the Black Caps seemed to be headed for an easy victory following a score of 360 for six from 50 overs. In a tight conclusion, Stirling and Tector’s outstanding strokeplay made the visitors sweat.

Ireland’s middle order reduced the chase to 10 off the last over.

They scored five runs off of Blair Tickner’s first three balls, and when Craig Young attempted to make a second run, he was run out.

Graham Hume needed three with the last ball, but his enormous swing fell short. Ireland only had a leg bye, and despite scoring 359 for 9, their best ODI total, they lost the series by three tight runs.

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New Zealand won the first game by one wicket with one ball remaining and the second by three wickets to set up the sweep.

Guptill scored 115 runs without making a mistake, his 18th ODI century for New Zealand, while Henry Nicholls blasted three sixes in his 54-ball 79-run innings.

Stirling, one of Matt Henry’s four victims, reached three figures during Ireland’s batting innings with a boundary down to the third man, but he was incensed when he was dismissed for 120.

His third-wicket stand of 179 runs with Tector—scoring 113 in the series opener—set an Irish ODI record.

Balbirnie said, “The two hundreds were among the greatest I’ve seen.” “Tector has hinted that he will do this. Two in a week is exceptional.”

The hosts’ chances of winning were minimal after Tector went for 108, but George Dockrell’s quick 22 kept them in the game until the bitter finish.

“Hats off to Ireland for a fantastic series. Each of the three games was completely unpredictable “Michael Bracewell, an all-arounder for New Zealand, was named player of the series.

Three Twenty20 international matches between New Zealand and Ireland will continue on Monday.