New Zealand take 1-0 lead into 2nd T20I against Ireland
Having completed a 3-0 sweep of Ireland in their recent ODI series, New Zealand’s Black Caps will be looking to lock up the 2nd T20I and complete the series tomorrow as well.
The visitors head into the match with a 1-0 lead in the series, courtesy of a dominant performance in the first T20I on Monday.
With the T20 World Cup just around the corner in October, can Ireland wrestle back momentum and square up the series at 1-1, or will the Black Caps continue their winning ways?
Current betting odds suggest the latter, and here’s why.
Black Caps make it four from four in Ireland
Ireland will feel hard done by to have been whitewashed in the recent ODI series.
The home side lost by one wicket on the last ball in the first ODI, having posted a score of 300. They then lost by three wickets in the second ODI, New Zealand’s most comfortable win—before having heartbreak in the third ODI, falling one run short of chasing down a massive total of 360.
This T20I series has begun a little less dramatically, with Ireland falling 31 runs short of chasing down New Zealand’s total of 174. Having been bowled out for 142, Ireland will be disappointed and looking to bounce back strong in tomorrow’s rematch.
New Zealand, however, will be pleased in their ability to win ugly and consistently.
More of the same from New Zealand for 2nd T20I
Heading into tomorrow’s match, New Zealand will be looking for much of the same from their team—solid batting, supported by tight bowling.
And there’s every chance this will happen, as the bookie’s odds reflect New Zealand are heavy favorites to take a commanding 2-0 lead tomorrow.
Bet makers place the Black Caps as -370 favorites tomorrow, with Ireland at +255—meaning there’s a 80% chance New Zealand walk away victors tomorrow.
Given the form of batters such as Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell, plus Lockie Ferguson’s pace in the bowling department, all signs are pointing towards the Black Caps repeating their winning ways tomorrow.
Ireland’s great hope, and the threat of Guptill
Of all the batsmen fronting up tomorrow, it’s Irishman Paul Stirling who’s paying the best odds to be top scorer.
At +225, Stirling is roughly a 30% chance of being the highest scorer of the match. When Ireland fell one run short in their latest ODI loss, it was the heroic century of Paul Stirling, scoring 120 runs off 103 balls, that took them so close.
However, on New Zealand’s side, Martin Guptill is a +240 favorite to top score for the Black Caps. He too is coming into the match with hot form, having scored 115 off 126 in the same match, and a spicy 24 runs off 12 balls in the last T20I on Monday.
Look for these two batters to be decisive in either side’s fate tomorrow at the 2nd T20I, as well as Irish bowler Josh Little, who is coming off a four-wicket bag last match.
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