The first ODI between Ireland and New Zealand was an absolute thriller and hopefully we will get more of the same when the two sides meet again for the second game of the three match series in Dublin on Tuesday.
New Zealand won in the final over on Sunday and that means they can win the series if they follow that up with another victory here. Ireland didn’t do a lot wrong in the first game and will be hoping they can get over the line here and force a decider.
Ireland
I think it is fair to say that Ireland controlled the majority of the opening ODI but if you don’t put good teams away they will come back and hurt you and that is exactly what New Zealand did. In a way Ireland didn’t do anything wrong other than not completely kill the game but the position they had the tourists in they could be forgiven for thinking that the match was won. They will need to be a little more clinical if they get into a winning position here.
Aside from how close they pushed the team who have made the last two World Cup finals, the positive for Ireland in that first game was how well they went with their openers not really contributing to the proceedings. We knew if they were to have any chance of winning this series they would have to put up decent runs and that is what they did. The obvious negative was how they bowled under pressure at the death. That needs to be improved.
New Zealand
Whether it was rust or just a sign that the best days of the New Zealand team are behind them in that opening only they will know but although they weren’t at full strength for the game, they still had enough players on the pitch to put a much better display in than they gave. How close they came to losing the match might just have acted as a wakeup call and we might see the best of them here, especially if there was a little bit of rust in them, and if we do you would imagine they’ll seal the series here.
It goes without saying that New Zealand will want more from their top order here. It appears to be a trend of this tour that their top order batters have struggled and although they showed in the last game that they have the depth in the batting to still be competitive. They would probably like to offer more in the middle overs with the ball as well because they had Ireland contained at one stage and let them get away.
Special Offer
Sign up for a Boylesports account to get up to £25 in free bets! Perfect offer for this series! Click the image below for this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Team News
Craig Young is a regular in this Ireland side but having gone the distance in the opening game should the home side want to rotate their bowlers then he might be the one to step aside. If not Ireland could name an unchanged side.
Mitchell Santner is expected to be available having been in Ireland for a few days now. Who he comes in for would be a bigger issue after Michael Bracewell smashed a century in the last game. Adam Milne is being monitored but Jacob Duffy is an option if the seamers are to be rotated.
Betting
I’ll go with one in this second match. I’m a little nervy about following in a run over bet that landed in the first game with the line rightly jumping up from what was way too low in the first game, particularly when this match might be on the same pitch and we’re in the middle of a hot and dry spell. I wouldn’t be surprise if this is another high scoring game and that Ireland put up a good showing but I’ll take one from the side markets.
That comes in the form of the performance of Curtis Campher who has a performance line of 36.5 which he covered with the bat and then the ball in the opening game. I suspect he might well do that again here because he’ll bat at five against the older ball which does nothing here and with the ball he just does enough to be awkward, particularly if we are on the same pitch which will be a little used. Campher averages just under 40 with the bat in ODI cricket with four 50s in 12 knocks, three of which came against England and South Africa, and with him likely to bowl a decent sized amount of overs I expect this total to be reached.
Tips
Back C.Campher’s Performance – Over 36.5pts for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2022
