GLENN PHILLIPS’ QUICK-fire 69 and four wickets from Lockie Ferguson inspired New Zealand’s 31-run win over Ireland in their opening Twenty20 international on Monday.
Phillips was unbeaten in his 52-ball innings as he smashed seven boundaries in New Zealand’s total of 173 for eight.
Jimmy Neesham kept the runs flowing for New Zealand with a rapid 29 which included a towering six into the sightscreen.
Ferguson turned the screw on Ireland in their chase with impressive figures of 4-14 as the hosts were bowled out for 142 in 18.2 overs.
Ireland, who just missed out on a first ever victory over New Zealand when they lost the final ODI by one run last week, elected to field first in Dublin.
It had looked a solid call when New Zealand opener Finn Allen fell for one in the third over off Joshua Little, who finished with four wickets.
Martin Guptill (24) soon followed after he holed out at long off and Dane Cleaver (five) lasted only seven deliveries on his debut, nicking a length ball from Little behind.
Daryl Mitchell was also dismissed for five off Curtis Campher to leave the tourists struggling at 54 for four in the ninth over.
Phillips nipped Ireland’s threat in the bud with his flamboyant stroke-play and New Zealand got an early breakthrough in the field when Mitchell Santner claimed a fine catch to dismiss Andy Balbirnie for 12.
Black Caps skipper Santner took two wickets with the ball to reduce Ireland to 69 for five in the 10th over.
Campher (29) and Mark Adair (25) gave Ireland faint hope, but Ferguson ensured the chase proved too much for the hosts.
Scores
New Zealand: 173-8 (20 overs) Phillips 69 not out, Little 4-35, Adair 2-49
Ireland: 142 (18.2 overs) Ferguson 4-14, Neesham 2-19, Santner 2-36
New Zealand won by 31 runs
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Very impressed by him over the two games against Salzburg. The price is ridiculously low too…
Great thing about Liverpool’s champions league group is that we’ve played two teams (Genk and Salzburg) with good young coaches who play very similar styles of football to us. Minamino and Genk’s Berge were the two opposition players who impressed most for me, and the Calibre of journalist (Reddy, Pearce etc) talking about this move does suggest it’s well in place.
Michael Edwards does it again, most likely…
This would be a very screwed signing from Liverpool if it comes through. Very tidy player and for that price in todays market. Almost no risk…
@Ottomaaan: Screwed indeed
Young,quick,scores goals…a nuisance when he doesn’t have the ball.
Go get him.
No Sancho, so
@Alexi: why, because of the massive 7m it’s going to cost to buy Minamino?
Don’t think the two moves have anything to do with each other.
@Alexi: Cant see klopp signing sancho
@Peter Govan: he definitely doesn’t sound lately like he has the right type of character for klopp or Liverpool
@Alexi: If LFC want Sancho they will get him. With an abundance of WC players it’s very hard to fit someone else in. Perhaps leaving some space for mBappe (summer more likely).
@Alexi: Do liverpool need him? Should be looking at proven players, you could buy 3/4 good squad players for the £100 million sancho would cost.
Centre back and left back needs backup.
@Paddy Kavanagh: I think they absolutely need him. Liverpool’s front 3 have been dogged now for 3seasons and there form or fitness will go if they can’t be rotated. Also if u want to continue staying at the top sometimes u need to buy big, I do agree they need lb and CB cover too though.
@6CL: Mbappe is going nowhere near Anfield unless PSG are going out of business or he’s taking a absolutely massive paycut, and I say that as an LFC Fan. Yeah he’s talented, his age profile is right, but his personality suits a move to Madrid where he can live a Galactico lifestyle and actually win important trophies.
@ℝ:
@6CL: let’s see
@6CL: don’t mean that LFC won’t win important trophies, we will. Just that compared to being Ligue 1 champions year after year virtually uncontested, La Liga and Copa Del Rey are more important…
A number of fringe Liverpool players must be watching this with interest. Is he a cheap deal or in to replace them. Harry Wilson, Shaqiri, and Lallana could all move behind him in the pecking order if he makes an impact.
@Dan: I still think there’s a place for Shaqiri at anfield (might be biased because for some reason I just adore him?!). Think Lallana will be gone in the summer, as will Harry Wilson. Wilson is a decent player but a club like Bournemouth is his level.
@Dan: Lallana will move on….Milner might too. Liverpool are going to be doing a bit of a minor overhaul this summer anyway, just getting this guy in early
@James Doyle: If Leeds come up Milner will leave.
@Peter Dunne: especially with milners current deal up at the end of the year. Be sorry to see him go, he’s been a great servant since coming in
James Pearce reckons hes ours on Jan 1st.
Beat UTD Milan & Moenchengladbach to his signature.Just over 7m.
Good business.
Edward’s strikes again.
He was superb in both games and wouldn’t cost a penny as the club would sell a million shirts in Japan once he signed.