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 2nd T20I
The last three T20Is at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast have been won by the teams defending. In the same period, the average first and second innings scores read 173 and 133 respectively.
Probable XIs for Ireland & New Zealand
Probable XI for Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (c), Gareth Delany, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, Joshua Little
Probable XI for New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, Dane Cleaver (wk), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
Power Players for the Match
Lockie Ferguson blew away Ireland with figures of 4 for 14 in the opening T20I. His ability to generate pace and bounce will continue to pose a challenge for Ireland. He is also one of the rare pacers who can bowl at different stages of the game.
After smashing 2 hundreds in the ODIs, Harry Tector experienced a rare failure in the first T20I. However, not long ago did he score 64* and 39 in the two T20Is against India.
Martin Guptill failed to convert his decent start in the last game, but he has already slammed a hundred and a fifty on this tour. His last five scores in T20Is read 24, 51, 31, 70, and 28.
Smart Picks for the Match
Glenn Phillips won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning 69* off 52 balls in the first T20I. He was solely responsible for rescuing his side from a precarious position of 54 for 4 to 173. As we saw in the ODIs, he is also capable of breaking partnerships with the ball.
James Neesham also contributed to New Zealand’s winning cause by adding a breezy 29 and picking 2 wickets. He can be inconsistent but has the ability to make a huge difference in fantasy leagues.
With 6 wickets and 102 runs in 4 matches, Curtis Campher has been consistently generating fantasy points with both bat and ball against New Zealand.
Joshua Little has bagged 11 wickets in his last 5 T20Is, including the best figures of 4 for 35 in the last game against New Zealand. Often he bowls at the death and ends up rewarding fantasy players.
On this tour of Ireland, Mitchell Santner has taken 7 wickets in 3 outings, including the all-important wicket of Harry Tector in the first T20I. He is also a capable batter down the order.
Lean Run in T20Is
Although Paul Stirling blasted 120 in the final ODI against New Zealand, his form in the T20Is has been a matter of concern. He has managed only 75 runs in the last five innings.
Form Concern
If Ireland are to stage a comeback in this series, they will need a substantial contribution from Andrew Balbernie at the top. Unfortunately, his scores in the last four competitive games read 12, 0, 2, and 9.
Ireland vs New Zealand 2nd T20I Match Preview
Although Ireland have fought hard in all four games, they have come out short against a highly spirited New Zealand side. That said, the Irish have a few match-winners in their squad and if they can perform as a collective unit, they can push the series into a decider.
Also Read:
India vs West Indies ODI head-to-head stats
Time: 20 July, 8.30 PM IST
