Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey
IRE vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IRE vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Ireland vs New Zealand 1st T20I Key Players | Belfast Pitch Report
It is a great mystery as to how Ireland lost the ODI series 3-0 to New Zealand. The Irish found themselves in strong positions on multiple occasions, most notably the first game where some Michael Bracewell magic broke hearts.
Also, if you cast your mind back to the India series, Ireland had the chance to win the second T20I. The home side came within a whisker of chasing India’s mammoth 225, falling short by just four runs in another example of so close, yet so far.
So, what does this T20I series have in store? Players in both teams will be gunning for top form ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup, with Ireland searching for confidence ahead of the first round of the tournament.
New Zealand will have experienced players on deck, so expect some fireworks in their first T20I of 2022. Daryl Mitchell and James Neesham add extra punch to the lineup, and Bracewell is coming off a superb series – a breakthrough for him in international cricket. If they get going, watch out.
IRE vs NZ 1st T20 Possible Playing 11
Ireland could play Barry McCarthy. Also, they have a decision to make if they want to fit Curtis Campher in the XI.
Ireland: 1. Paul Stirling, 2. Andy Balbirnie (c), 3. Gareth Delaney/Curtis Campher, 4. Harry Tector, 5. Lorcan Tucker (wk), 6. George Dockrell, 7. Mark Adair, 8. Andy McBrine, 9. Craig Young, 10. Barry McCarthy, 11. Josh Little
Daryl Mitchell is in New Zealand’s T20I squad, and could open given his brilliant form at last year’s T20 World Cup.
New Zealand: 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Daryl Mitchell, 3. Finn Allen, 4. Glenn Phillips (wk), 5. Jimmy Neesham, 6. Michael Bracewell, 7. Mitchell Santner (c), 8. Lockie Ferguson, 9. Ish Sodhi, 10. Jacob Duffy/Ben Sears, 11. Blair Tickner
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Ireland:
- Paul Stirling is coming off a superb century in the third ODI (120 off 103). Interestingly, the opener has a terrible record in T20s at Belfast (9 inns, 132 runs, avg. 14.67, SR 108.85), so the home side will be hoping he can turn this around.
- Harry Tector continues to impress. The 22-year old slammed two centuries in the ODI series after scores of 64* and 39 in the T20Is against India.
- Andy Balbirnie had a poor ODI series (11 runs in three matches), but he scored a 37-ball 60 in his last T20I against India.
- Mark Adair has taken seven wickets in his past four T20 matches. He is one to watch in the crunch overs. In fact, in his last T20I, he took one wicket in each stage of the India innings.
- Craig Young has taken the third-most wickets of any bowler in T20Is this year (18) in just eight matches. He is averaging 11.67 and boasts an economy rate of 7.00.
New Zealand:
- Daryl Mitchell comes into this series on the back of a memorable Test series against England, where he struck three centuries in as many Tests.
- Mitchell could open in this game. It is a position he enjoyed success in at last year’s T20 World Cup. Overall as a T20I opener, he has scored 244 runs in 10 matches at an average of 27.11 and strike rate of 133.33.
- Martin Guptill also comes into this match in good form. He was player of the match in the third ODI, with 115 off 126 balls.
- Michael Bracewell had the ODI series of a lifetime. He struck 127* (82), 40* (47) and 21* (16) in a dream campaign. New Zealand could look to use him as a floater.
- Jimmy Neesham, as he showed against England in last year’s World Cup, is crucial as a finisher. Also, he can deliver at the death with the ball.
- Lockie Ferguson has taken 21 wickets in 18 T20s this year at an economy rate of 8.74. Expect the pacer to play a key role in the death overs.
- Ish Sodhi has taken 83 wickets in 64 T20Is at an average of 21.97 and economy rate of 8.05.
Other Stats and Facts
- These two teams have met just once before in T20Is. New Zealand beat Ireland by 83 runs in the 2009 World Cup.
- Martin Guptill played in that game. He scored 45* off 32 balls.
- This will be New Zealand’s first T20I in 2022. Their last match was against India in November 2021.
- Ireland have lost their last three T20Is (two against India, one against UAE).
Civil Service Cricket Club Stormont Belfast Pitch Report and Weather
Last year, South Africa scored 159/7 and 189/2 batting first against Ireland. They won both games easily. Expect a good, easy-paced surface today in warm conditions in Belfast, with a top of about 28 degrees celsius.
IRE vs NZ 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction 18 July 2022
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.
Option 1:
Option 2:
Fan2Play Prediction
Base Team:
- Wicket-Keepers: Lorcan Tucker
- Batsmen: Martin Guptill, Paul Stirling
- All-rounders: Michael Bracewell
- Bowlers: Craig Young, Lockie Ferguson
Match Prediction
New Zealand to win.
