Latest update April 10th, 2025 6:28 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

NZ beat Ireland in warm-up game

Apr 28, 2010 Sports

West Indies play under lights tonight

 

By Sean Devers

New Zealand, who lost to Sri Lanka in the first ever 20/20 International in 2005 and has played more 20/20 International than any other team (33) yesterday produced a clinical performance to defeat Ireland by 30 runs in gloomy conditions at the Guyana National Stadium in their first practice game before the 2010 T/20 World cup commences here in Guyana on Friday.

New Zealand who play their last practice game against West Indies this evening from 17:00hrs at Providence after Ireland and Afghanistan face-off from 13:30hrs, elected to bat first on the lush green and billiards-table smooth outfield and on the back of a century partnership from Rob Nicol (30) and the pugnacious Jesse Ryder (64) reached 187-5 off 20 overs.

Off-spinner Nathan McCullum grabbed 3-24 from his 4 overs despite being hit for 2 sixes and a four and conceding 14 from his last over as Ireland were restricted to 147-9 when their overs ran out.

With a tinge of grass the Providence track looked good for batting but like it has done in previous matches at the 10th Test ground in the Region, it offered turn for the spinners and both McCullum and Irish left-arm spinner George Dockrell (4-0-32-3) enjoyed the slow surface in hazy sunshine and a slight drizzle during the latter part of the New Zealand innings.

Nicol played the supporting role in the 104 opening stand with the left-handed Ryder with a solid 25-ball 31 with 2 fours and a six while Ryder who reached the large boundary 5 times and cleared it on five more occasions, smashed 64 from just 31 balls as he entertained a small but vocal crowd which included plenty of school children.

Ryder missed a slog-sweep and was bowled by Paul Sterling in the 9th over before Dockrell removed Nicol in the next as New Zealand slipped to 104-2.

Scott Styris (5) was removed at 113-3 by Dockrell who also got rid of Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins (5) at 130-4 in the 15th over.

Martin Guptill, who became the first New Zealand batsman to score an ODI ton on debut with his unbeaten 122 against the West Indies last year, played an array of audacious shots in a 37-ball 50 with 3 fours and three sixes while Skipper Daniel Vettori chipped in with a cameo unbeaten 18 for the Black Caps.

McCullum continued the recent trend of a spinner opening the bowling and struck in the first over of the Irish reply when Sterling was bowled for a duck. The off-spinner removed Niall O’Brian (12) in his next over to leave Ireland, who qualified for this tournament when they lost Afghanistan in the ICC qualifiers earlier year in the United Arab Emirates, on 19-2 in 3 overs.

Skipper William Porterfield (34 from 30 balls), Gary Wilson (30 from 29) and Kevin O’Brian who was run out for 28 offered resistance but failed to build on good starts as Ireland lost their last 4 wickets for nine runs.

Pacer Trent threw his bat around in his rapid 17 from 10 balls and hit straight sixes in successive overs off left-arm spinner Vettori (0-33 from his three overs) and medium pacer Styris before he was neatly stumped as Styris had the last laugh.

Many fans, unaware that the scheduled West Indies/Afghanistan match was canceled, turned up for the day/night encounter but had to settle for seeing the Chris Gayle home team practice under lights.

Only persons with tickets will be allowed in the stadium for today’s double header and fans will hope that better arrangements are put in place for the traffic heading towards the East Bank of Demerara especially in the vicinity of the Industrial Site area where policemen were directing traffic as they superseded the working traffic lights.

Many vehicles without an access pass to the Stadium route (the Eastern side of the two-way East Bank highway) took as long as an hour from Ruimveldt to Providence. 

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Berbice ease past Demerara in low-scoring match 

Berbice ease past Demerara in low-scoring match 

Apr 09, 2025

2025 GCB Female T20 inter-county tournament  Kaieteur Sports – It was a stroll to victory for the Berbice women who destroyed Demerara by 8 wickets yesterday when action in the GCB senior T20...
Read More
Upper Demerara suffer 8 wicket loss as Lakeram stars with bat and ball 

Upper Demerara suffer 8 wicket loss as Lakeram...

Apr 09, 2025

Joshi is the new National 2025 Women’s Chess Champion

Joshi is the new National 2025 Women’s Chess...

Apr 09, 2025

Kares Engineering renews title sponsorship of One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast

Kares Engineering renews title sponsorship of One...

Apr 09, 2025

Harpy Eagles looking to put old rivals to bed, with path to title retention clear 

Harpy Eagles looking to put old rivals to bed,...

Apr 09, 2025

Windsor Estates reigns supreme at AmCham Golf Classic

Windsor Estates reigns supreme at AmCham Golf...

Apr 09, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]