Ireland fell by just one run as New Zealand chased down a huge score

Paul Stirling and Harry Tector’s centuries led New Zealand to a dramatic one-run victory over Ireland in the third one-day international in Dublin on Friday.

“It was a fantastic game,” said Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie. “A bitter pill to swallow, but a very good one.”

Martin Guptill’s century saw the Black Caps eyeing a stunning victory after laying the foundations for 360 for six in 50 overs.

Stirling and Tector made the tourists sweat with some excellent stroke-play in a tense finish.

Ireland’s lower order managed to reduce the chase to 10 runs in the last over.

They scored five runs off the first three balls of Blair Tickner, then Craig Young was run out for the second run.

Graham Hume needed three off the last ball, but missed his huge swing. Ireland got just one leg bye and suffered their third narrow defeat of the series, despite their highest ODI score of 359 for nine.

New Zealand won the first match by one wicket with one ball to spare, and went on to sweep the second match by three wickets.

Guptill scored 115, his 18th ODI century for New Zealand, and Henry Nicholls hit three sixes in his 54-ball 79-run innings.

When Ireland batted, Stirling reached three figures with a boundary to third man but was furious when he was dismissed for 120, one of Matt Henry’s four victims.

His third-wicket partnership of 179 with Tector, who scored 113 in the series opener, is an Irish ODI record.

“Two hundred is the best I’ve ever seen,” Balbirnie said. “Tector threatens to do this. Two a week is special.

As Tector went for 108, the home side’s hopes of victory faded, but a quick 22 from George Dockrell kept them in the fight until the end.

“It’s been a fantastic series, good luck to Ireland. All three games could have gone either way,” said New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell, adjudged Man of the Series.

New Zealand will resume their duel with Ireland in three Twenty20 internationals from Monday.