We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report for Ireland vs New Zealand, 1st T20I
Only 4 of 16 completed T20Is at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast have been won by the team batting first. There are only two scores above 160, indicating that batting is an uphill task at the venue.
Probable XIs for Ireland & New Zealand
Probable XI for Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Craig Young, Josh Little, Conor Olphert
Probable XI for New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (wk), James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears
Power Players for Ireland vs New Zealand, 1st T20I
In New Zealand’s previous series against India in 2021, Martin Guptill finished as the highest run-scorer for the team, scoring two fifties in three games. His recent exploits too are encouraging for the fantasy players: his scores in the ODIs against Ireland read 51, 0, and 115.
Harry Tector smashed two hundreds in the ODI series. Before this, in the T20Is against India, his scores read 64* and 39. Although all these games ended in a defeat, Tector’s contribution has made him the most popular pick from Ireland in fantasy cricket.
Craig Young has not gone wicketless in 2022. He has racked up 18 wickets in 8 T20Is. He is often used as a first-change bowler, striking mostly in the middle overs.
Smart Picks for Ireland vs New Zealand, 1st T20I
Taking Andy Balbirnie’s ODI form into consideration in fantasy sports would be misleading. In his last five competitive T20 games, however, he has scored two fifties, one of which was a 37-ball 60 against India.
Michael Bracewell was the highest run-scorer in the New Zealand T20 League this year. He scored 478 runs at a strike rate of 150, including a hundred and four fifties in 10 matches. In the ODI series last week, he scored 190 runs at a strike rate of 138. In addition to his stunning, he also picked two wickets.
Josh Little has gone wicketless only once in the last 10 competitive games. He can be uneconomical at times but has a reputation for striking at regular intervals.
In the recently concluded English T20 League, James Neesham scored 255 runs including the highest score of 75* and sniped up 12 wickets in 11 games.
In a mere 15 T20Is, Lockie Ferguson has already picked up 25 wickets including the best figures of 5 for 21. The conditions favour his style of bowling.
In the only game Ish Sodhi played in the ODIs, he produced fantasy points with both bat and ball: 25 off 35 and 2 for 62. He is a veteran of 83 T20I wickets and will be eager to bowl to the Irishmen who are vulnerable against spin.
Daryl Mitchell would look to continue the momentum he gained in Tests into the T20Is. He scored three hundreds in the series against England. That being said, he averages a mere 22 in 25 T20Is. He has all the talent and form to improve the numbers.
Also Read:
India Tour of West Indies 2022 Schedule, Venue & Squads
Ireland vs New Zealand, 1st T20I Match Preview
Ireland have won 5 of their last 10 T20Is in 2022. New Zealand, however, will be playing the format after 9 months: they have lost 4 of their last 5 T20Is, comprising the 3-0 drubbing against India.
As far as head-to-head is concerned, New Zealand won the only T20I they played against Ireland in 2009.
Time: July 18, 8:30 PM IST