New Zealand escaped Ireland’s record-breaking relegation led by centuries from Paul Stirling and Harry Tector to a dramatic victory in the third one-day international in Dublin on Friday.
“It was an amazing game,” said Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie. “A bitter pill to swallow, but it was great.”
Martin Guptill’s century saw the Black Caps post a convincing victory after laying the foundation for a total of 360 for six in 50 overs.
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Sterling and Tector made the tourists sweat with some brilliant stroke-play at the tense end.
Ireland’s lower order managed to bring down the target for 10 runs in the last over.
He scored five off Blair Tickner’s first three balls, then Craig Young was run out in the second run attempt.
Graham Hume needed three runs off the last ball, but his big swing was missed. Ireland got only one leg bye and suffered their third narrow defeat of the series, despite their highest ODI score of 359 for nine.
New Zealand won the first match by one wicket with one ball remaining and won the second match by three wickets.
Guptill hit 115, his 18th ODI century for New Zealand and Henry Nicholls hit three sixes in his 54-ball knock of 79.
When Ireland batted, Sterling reached three points with a boundary in third man, but when he was dismissed for 120, one of Matt Henry’s four victims, he was furious.
His 179-run partnership for the third wicket with Tector, who had scored 113 runs in the first match of the series, was an Irish ODI record.
“Two centuries were the best I’ve seen,” said Balbirnie. “Tector is threatening to do so. It’s special to meet twice a week.”
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When Tector went for 108, the hosts’ hopes of victory looked slim, but George Dockrell’s speedy 22 kept them in the fight until the end.
“It has been an amazing series, salute to Ireland. All three games could have gone either way,” said New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell, selected player of the series.
New Zealand will resume their duel with Ireland in three Twenty20 Internationals starting on Monday.
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