Michael Bracewell rounded off New Zealand's crushing 88-run win over Ireland in the second T20 at Belfast on Wednesday with a hat-trick.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ireland, chasing 180 to win, collapsed to 91 all out inside 14 overs at Stormont and were all but beaten when off-spinner Bracewell removed tailenders Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy and Craig Young with successive deliveries to become only the third New Zealand bowler to take a hat-trick at this level after pacemen Jacob Oram and Tim Southee.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi broke the back of Ireland's innings by removing Curtis Campher, Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell in a return of 3-21.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Had it not been for an eighth-wicket stand of 37 between Adair, who top-scored in the innings with 27, and McCarthy, Ireland might have suffered an even more crushing defeat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ireland's chase had started in style, with experienced opener Paul Stirling smashing spinner Mitchell Santner for a six and a four in the first over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stirling also struck fast bowler Lockie Ferguson through the covers for another four only to fall for 21 when he sliced the paceman to mid-off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His exit prompted a dramatic collapse that saw seven wickets lost for 31 runs as 23-0 was transformed rapidly into 54-7, with Jacob Duffy bowling No 3 Gareth Delany for a golden duck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, Dane Cleaver's unbeaten 78 took New Zealand to 179-4 after Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie won the toss.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cleaver, playing only his second T20 international, faced 55 balls including five fours and four sixes after coming into bat when New Zealand were 44-1 in the fifth over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The series concludes when the teams return to Stormont on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief scores<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand 179-4, 20 overs (D Cleaver 78 no; J Little 2-31, C Young 2-34)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ireland 91, 13.5 overs (M Bracewell 3-5, I Sodhi 3-21, J Duffy 2-20)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Result: New Zealand won by 88 runs<\/p>\r\n\r\n