Finn Allen powers New Zealand to ODI series win over Ireland, triumph in second game by 3 wickets

Mark Adair’s early heroics could not prevent Ireland falling to a three-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the second one-day international. Adair took the wickets of Martin Guptill and Will Young with the first two balls of the Kiwi innings as they set about chasing down the hosts’ modest 216.

But a fine 60 from Finn Allen soon steadied the visitors and they cruised to a victory which also sealed the series with one game remaining. Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry each helped themselves to two wickets as New Zealand immediately set about the Irish attack.

ODI 2 - Malahide #IREvNZ pic.twitter.com/3lFVOd0jiE — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) July 12, 2022

Allen scored his second ODI fifty off 58 balls with 3 sixes and six fours. He put on 101 runs for the third wickets with captain Tom Latham, who scored 55 off 73 balls with one six and five fours in his innings.

Under pressure, it was only a fine 74 from George Dockrell and a gutsy unbeaten 27 from Adair that enabled Ireland to amass a reasonable total. But rising Irish hopes after the dramatic start to the New Zealand innings soon fell away as the Black Caps composed themselves and Tom Latham joined Allen in earning a half-century.

A middle-order wobble made the result far from certain until Bracewell translated his fine form with the ball to the bat, with his unbeaten 42 carrying the tourists over the line with 71 balls to spare.

Brief scores: Ireland 216 in 48 overs (George Dockrell 74, Andy McBrine 28; Michael Bracewell 2/26, Mitchell Santner 2/32, Matt Henry 2/40) lost to New Zealand 219/7 in 38.1 overs (Finn Allen 60, Tom Latham 55, Michael Bracewell 42 n.o.; Mark Adair 2/29)

(with PTI inputs)