New Zealand Beat Ireland By 1 Run In Thriller 3rd ODI Despite Tons From Stirling & Tector

IRE vs NZ 3rd ODI - In an edge-of-the-seat thriller match, New Zealand bowlers manage to hold their nerves as the Kiwis defeated Ireland by 1 run in the 3rd ODI and completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series. Ireland scored 359/9 in 50 overs in reply to New Zealand's 360/6.

Chasing a humongous target of 361, Ireland lost their captain and opener Andrew Balbirinie in the 2nd over for a duck. Paul Stirling held one end as he etched a partnership of 55 runs with Andr McBrine (26), before Matt Henry broke through, dismissing the latter. 

However, Stirling and youngster Harry Tector steadied the Irish ship as these two etched a partnership of 179 runs in 150 balls for the third wicket. Paul Stirling brought up his 13th ODI hundred and was dismissed after scoring 120 runs in 103 balls with 14 fours & 5 sixes. 

Harry Tector carried on as the Irish team went on to lose wickets at regular intervals. 22-year-old Harry Tector brought up his second ton of the series and scored 108 runs in 106 balls with 7 fours & 5 sixes before he was dismissed in the 44th over by Mitchell Santner, which turned the game in NZ's favour.

With 10 runs required in the last over, the equation came down to 3 runs off the last ball and the Black Caps held their nerves, conceding a single and winning the 3rd ODI by the barest of margins. For New Zealand, Matt Henry picked up 4 wickets while Mitchell Santner grabbed 3 wickets. Blair Tickner also managed a scalp to his name. 

In the first innings, Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls powered New Zealand to 360/6 in 50 overs. Ace opener Guptill scored 115 runs in 126 balls with 15 fours & 2 sixes while Henry Nicholls blasted 79 runs off 54 balls with 7 fours & 3 sixes. 

For Ireland, Joshua Little picked up 2 wickets while Craig Young, Curtis Campher and Gareth Delany picked up 1 wicket each.

Also Read: Scorecard

Earlier, New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss & opted to bat first against Ireland in the 3rd ODI. This match was played at The Village, Dublin.