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New Zealand have their one foot in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 following a comfortable victory over Ireland at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Put in to bat first, the Black Caps managed to post 185/6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to skipper Kane Williamson who led from the front, smashing a remarkable half-century. Williamson scored 61 off 35 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes before Joshua Little dismissed him in the penultimate over.
Apart from Williamson, Finn Allen (32), Devon Conway (28), and Daryl Mitchell (31 no) chipped in with notable contributions. Little, who removed Williamson, went on to pick two more scalps in consecutive deliveries to bag a hat-trick.
In reply, the Irish team could only reach 150/9 in 20 overs, losing the contest by 35 runs. Opener Paul Stirling top scored with 37 off 27 deliveries, including three four and a maximum.
For the Black Caps, Lockie Ferguson bagged three wickets for 22 in his quota of 4 overs. Similarly, the spin duo of Mitchell Santner (2/26) and Ish Sodhi (2/31) picked up two scalps each, while Tim Southee (2/29) also took a couple of wickets.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Kane Williamson becomes New Zealand's leading run scorer in Men's T20 World Cup.
Most runs:
643* – Kane Williamson
637 – Brendon McCullum
617 – Martin Guptill
562 – Ross Taylor#T20WorldCup #NZvIRE— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) November 4, 2022
Kharismatic Kane Mama! 🧡
Hitting 🔝 form towards the business end of the Super 12 group stages 🙌#NZvIRE #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ayLcr1nsVw
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 4, 2022
Domination continues for New Zealand, 3rd win from 4 games in the T20 World Cup 2022.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 4, 2022
Skipper Kane Williamson named Player of the Match at @TheAdelaideOval after his 61 from 35 balls against @cricketireland. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Xm7U8L7HKn
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 4, 2022
Moment to savour for Josh Little who announced himself last year at the T20 World Cup to a wider audience. And now, has shown that his good reviews were not misplaced! #Hattrick
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 4, 2022
I would like to thank all of Kane Williamson’s critics for baiting him into an innings of 61(35).
A repeat dose in the coming few days would be welcome.
— Michael Appleton (@michelappleton) November 4, 2022
Hopefully this means we never have to talk about Kane Williamson’s SR ever again. #NZvIRE
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) November 4, 2022
JOSH LITTLE, HUGE HAT-TRICK yew 🔥 #NZvIRE #T20WorldCup
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) November 4, 2022
New Zealand 🔥 #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/APxZWd9CKD
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) November 4, 2022
NZ were well on their way to a score of over 200, but Josh Little put a stop to that with his 3-22 ☘️
NZ end on 185-6 with captain Kane, top-scoring with 61#T20WorldCup #NZvIRE pic.twitter.com/HdY0TdGtPD
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) November 4, 2022
Always feels special when one of your favourite players play such knock especially during his bad patch
Well played Kane Williamson 🤎#NZvIRE#T20WorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/X0CVAUI8Ik— 🐐 (@FOREVER_VK_FAN) November 4, 2022