New Zealand finished their Group games on a high with a thumping 35-run win against Ireland to inch closer to a spot in the semifinals of the T20 WorldCup 2022.
Put into bat, New Zealand batters started off the innings strongly with openers Finn Allen and Devon Convay putting up a 52-run opening partnership.
However, it was skipper Kane Williamson's brilliant 61 runs off 35 balls that helped the Kiwis put up a challenging total on board. While the Blackcaps were eyeing a score well above 200, Ireland pacer Joshua Little with a sensational hat-trick in the 19th over which restricted the Blackcaps to 185/6.
Chasing which, Ireland got off to a steady start with openers Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie scoring 68 runs before the skipper lost his wicket to spinner Mitchell Santner. Ireland never recovered from that and came tumbling down. Losing wickets at regular intervals, Balbirnie's men eventually finished at 150/9 runs in 20 overs. While Fergusson picked a 3-wicket haul, Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee picked 2 wickets each.
With the defeat, Ireland are knocked out of the tournament while New Zealand strengthened their hopes of making it to the semis.
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