Kiwis cream Irish
Fleming failed to establish himself
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Monday, 09, Apr 2007 10:51
New Zealand have claimed an emphatic 129-run Super Eights victory over Ireland after a spectacular collapse by the World Cup minnows.
Some steady if not spectacular bowling had restricted the Black Caps to 263-8 on a good Guyana batting track, but Ireland earned just nine runs with their last six wickets as they disintegrated to 134 all out.
Brothers Niall (30) and Kevin O'Brien (49) had given their side a decent-looking platform after a 94-ball stand of 75, but their hard work was undone by New Zealand's spinners, most notably Daniel Vettori (4-23).
In the Black Caps' innings opener Peter Fulton kept the scoreboard ticking over at a reasonable rate with a fine 83 off 110 deliveries, but once he was removed lbw by Kyle McCallan with the score on 172 there seemed little drive left in the innings.
A series of batsman seemed poised to settle in at the crease and build scores but each promising start was snuffed out by some dangerous seam bowling for Dave Langford-Smith (2-41) or the wily spin of McCallan (2-35) and Andrew White (2-45).
The dangerous Scott Styris was totally deceived by Langford-Smith's slower ball and Craig McMillan was following him back to the pavilion for just 22 after McCallan lured him into a reckless drive to gully.
Brendon McCullum (47) and James Franklin (34 not out) hung about long enough to haul the New Zealand score upwards, but in the end the total proved more than enough to triumph over the Irish, who have still won just once in the entire World Cup.