After a power-packed ODI series, the action shifts to the shortest format as Ireland and New Zealand will be locking horns in the first T20I at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast on Monday, July 18. After suffering a 0-3 whitewash in the just-concluded ODI series in an agonizing manner, the Irish team would be hoping for a revival in fortunes in the T20I series.

In what was an evenly-contested ODI series, Ireland fell short on all three occasions despite being in a position of strength. Two of those were high-scoring thrillers where runs in excess of 300 were scored. New Zealand, on the other hand, were not up to the mark with the ball in the first and third game and the top-order batting remained inconsistent as well. It was courtesy of middle-order sensation Michael Bracewell that they succeeded in winning the first two matches.

Match Details
Venue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Date & Time: July 18, 2022, at 8:30 PM IST
Live Streaming: FanCode App

Pitch Report
The Belfast wicket is expected to be favorable for both batting and bowling. However, the batters have a better chance of capitalizing on the surface once they are well set in the middle and a run fest looks pretty much on the cards. The pacers and spinners need to bowl in the right areas in order to get breakthroughs at regular intervals. Therefore, the captain winning the toss will look to bowl first.

Ireland vs New Zealand, 1st T20 Probable Playing XI
Ireland:
Andrew Balbirnie (c), Paul Stirling, Andy McBrine, Mark Adair, Harry Tector, George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Barry McCarthy, Curtis Campher, Craig Young, Joshua Little

New Zealand:
Martin Guptill, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears

IRE vs NZ, 1st T20I Probable Top Performers
Probable best batter of the m.