World Twenty20:Ireland missed the opportunity to register another giantkilling by slipping to an 83-run defeat against injury-hit New Zealand in the second stage of the World Twenty20 tournament. Having already progressed beyond expectations into the Super Eights, Ireland were increasingly hopeful of following their shock victory over Bangladesh by beating a New Zealand side missing several key players.
But their big chance to claim an early victory in the second stage was missed with New Zealand powering to a commanding 198 for five and then dismissing Ireland for a modest 115 in only 16.4 overs in reply.
New Zealand's preparations for today's encounter at Trent Bridge could not have been more disrupted with captain Daniel Vettori, who is yet to feature in the tournament, again being ruled out with a shoulder problem while Ross Taylor has been sidelined with a hamstring strain.
They were also forced to change their explosive opening partnership with Jesse Ryder being ruled out of the tournament with an infection and being replaced by Aaron Redmond, who has spent the summer playing for Farnworth in the Bolton League.
It was an inspired move by New Zealand with Redmond, who forged a reputation as a solid and determined Test opener during last year's tour of England, transforming himself into a hard-hitting opener with a brilliant 63 off 30 balls.
Redmond showed his intent from the very start, hitting the first two balls he faced for four and hitting 13 boundaries in all during a superb 51-run stand where he even overshadowed the brilliant strokeplay of Brendon McCullum.
Having warmed up for his shock call-up by hitting 10 sixes in his 144 playing for Farnworth against Astley Bridge last weekend, Redmond merely continued playing in the same vein and provided the impetus for New Zealand to claim such a competitive total.
He fell shortly before the halfway point of the innings, lbw to seamer Alex Cusack, having claimed the seventh fastest half-century in Twenty20 international history off only 23 balls and set the stage for New Zealand's powerful middle order to take advantage in the second half of the innings.
Ireland briefly halted the run spree and conceded only 13 runs in a four-over spell when they combined the medium-pace of Kevin O'Brien with the off-spin of Kyle McCallan.
The vast experience of Scott Styris, who has played two years of Indian Premier League cricket with the Deccan Chargers, proved crucial in a 61-run stand with Martin Guptill which set New Zealand up for their big total.
Styris showed the importance of good running between the wickets, which helped New Zealand keep the scoreboard ticking over while Ireland attempted to take the pace off the ball and reduce the scoring rate.
But they broke out of the little spell to help add 44 runs in the final four overs with Styris hitting a four and three sixes in his 42 off 23 balls while Guptill successfully marshalled the end of the innings and finished unbeaten on 45 off 33 balls having hit four sixes.
It could have been far worse for Ireland had Kevin O'Brien not taken a tumbling catch at backward square leg to earn McCallan his second wicket and end Styris' destructive innings with just four overs remaining.
Needing a positive start to prevent the run-rate escalating out of control, Ireland suffered a dismal start with captain William Porterfield being run out off the fourth ball of their innings when seamer Kyle Mills successfully deflected a drive on to the stumps in his follow through.
Porterfield's early demise was one of four run outs suffered by Ireland with New Zealand's energetic fielding continually forcing errors of judgement and hesitation.
That was underlined by the run out of Andre Botha, who top-scored for Ireland with an aggressive 28 from 17 balls, after he was involved in a mix-up with O'Brien.
Having pushed into the off-side looking for a quick single, Botha set off tentatively only to be sent back by O'Brien as he saw Styris run in from cover to throw the ball to wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan before he could return to his crease.
Only Cusack offered much resistance after that, hitting 20 off 12 balls, before being caught by acting captain Brendon McCullum facing the off-spin of brother Nathan.
He was one of two wickets to fall in three balls during that over with McCullum also winning an lbw decision against McCallan before seamer Mills completed New Zealand's comfortable victory by removing last man Regan West's off-stump.