Ireland can take positives despite defeat

Cricket:Ireland will draw plenty of positives from their first official World Cup warm-up game today despite losing by 32 runs in a high-scoring clash against New Zealand in Nagpur, India.

The Black Caps posted an impressive 311 for six from their 50 overs, with opening batsman Martin Guptill making 130 from 134 balls.

There were also valuable contributions from James Franklin (49) and Jesse Ryder (48), with Trent Johnston’s two wickets for 62 runs the pick of the Irish bowling.

Ireland got off to a perfect start in reply with skipper William Porterfield and Paul Stirling putting on 93 for the first wicket before Stirling was trapped leg before by Daniel Vettori in the 13th over after hitting 39 off 33 balls, including three sixes.

Porterfield looked well set to go on to match Guptill’s earlier contribution, only to fall to a James Franklin catch off Hamish Bennett’s bowling for 72.

Ed Joyce (41) and Niall O’Brien (32) made good starts but Ireland were stymied by some tight bowling from Vettori and Scott Styris in the middle overs.

Inevitably, wickets started to fall as the run rate rose, with left-arm spinner Vettori claiming four for 42, before Ryder ended Johnston’s enterprising knock of 33 off 27 balls as Ireland were bowled out for 279 in the penultimate over.

New Zealand 311-6 (50 ovs)(M Guptill 130, J Franklin 49, J Ryder 48, R Taylor 33, S Styris 29no; T Johnston 2-62), Ireland 279 (48.2 ovs)(W Porterfield 72, E Joyce 41, P Stirling 39, T Johnston 33, N O'Brien 32; D Vettori 4-24, K Mills 3-52, H Bennett 2-61). New Zealand won by 32 runs.