IRL vs NZL 1st T20I match prediction 18 Jul 2022

IRE vs NZ 1st T20I Predictions & Betting Tips

After three nail-biting ODI matches, it's time for the first T20I match between Ireland and New Zealand on Monday, July 18 at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast. The match will be the first T20I match since 2009. In fact, Ireland and New Zealand have played only one T20I against each other. The Kiwis won that match by 83 runs.

Ireland have come up with spirited performances throughout the three ODIs. They scored 300 runs in the first match as New Zealand somehow managed to win the game by one wicket and one run remaining. In the second ODI, New Zealand lost as many as seven wickets while chasing 217 runs. In the third and final match Ireland finished at 359/9 while chasing a massive 361-run total. New Zealand will be very wary of the Irish challenge in the T20Is. As we gear up for the first T20I, I have brought to you the best three betting tips from the IRE vs NZ 1st T20I head-to-head encounter.

IRE vs NZ Player Bets:

Harry Tector, Martin Guptill and Paul Stirling are my top two player betting tips for the IRE vs NZ 1st T20I. Have a look at it for reaping the best returns.

Harry Tector to score over 18.5 runs

Harry Tector was on fire when India toured Ireland for a 2-match T20I series. The middle-order batsman put his team on the cusp of a win in both the matches. He scored unbeaten 64 runs in the first game and 39 in the second. His impressive run with the bat continued in the ODI series against New Zealand. In the third and final match, the middle-order batter smashed seven fours and five sixes to score 108 runs off 106 balls. The 22-year-old also hit a hundred in the first ODI, finishing the series with 225 runs at an average of 75. He was the only batter to score more than 200 runs in the series. The 22-year-old has scores of 39, 64*, 50, 35 and 24* in his last five T20I outings. The right-hander has developed a knack of making an impression against the big teams and on Monday there will be another opportunity for him to come down all guns blazing. Overall, he has played 34 T20I matches and scored 643 runs at an average of 26.79 and strike rate of 133.12. In Ireland, Harry Tector has scored 233 runs in nine matches at an average of 33.28. The talented youngster looks all set to score at least over 18.5 runs in the first IRE vs NZ T20I. If you feel the same, head over to 1XBET and grab the odds of 1.832 for Harry Tector to score over 18.5 runs from the IRE vs NZ 1st T20I head-to-head encounter.

Martin Guptill to score over 24.5 runs

Martin Guptill was stunning in his previous outing for New Zealand in the third ODI against Ireland. His 126-ball 115 fired New Zealand to 360 for the loss of six wickets in 50 overs. He also hit a fifty in the first ODI and a hundred in the final ODI against Netherlands in April. The opener has scored 3299 runs in 112 T20I matches at an average of 32.66. He has two hundreds and 20 fifties in the match. He is one of the only three batters to score over 3000 runs in the format. The 35-year-old's last five T20I innings have seen him score 51, 31, 70, 28 and 4 runs. In the one match he has played against Ireland, Guptill scored 45 unbeaten runs off 32 balls. With the T20 World Cup 2022 approaching, Guptill will look to continue with his red hot form and hand his team a few more memorable wins. He has also developed a liking for the Ireland bowlers and that can come handy for him and New Zealand in the first T20I. Scoring 24.5 runs for in-form Martin Guptil should not at all be difficult. If you feel the same, head over to 1XBET and grab the odds of 1.832 for Martin Guptill to score over 24.5 runs @ 1.832 from the IRE vs NZ 1st T20I head-to-head encounter.

Paul Stirling to score over 20.5

The most experienced Ireland batter Paul Stirling smashed 120 runs off 103 balls in the final ODI and set the tone for the 361-run chase. His third wicket partnership 179 runs with Harry Tector gave New Zealand a run for their money. The visitors could win the match by one run only courtesy the foundation laid by Stirling. The 31-year-old has played a total of 104 T20Is and scored 2820 runs at an average of 27.92 and strike rate of 135.31. He has one hundred and 20 fifties to his name in the format. The right-hand batters' last seven T20I innings have seen him score 40, 4, 12, 6, 34, 32, and 32 runs. In Ireland he has played 23 matches and scored 563 runs at 26.80. At the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast, the hard-hitting batsman has scored 114 runs at an average of 16.28. But considering his form and the weak bowling line-up of New Zealand in the absence of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson, Stirling looks set to score over 20.5 runs. The Belfast-born was recently seen playing in the Vitality Blast 2022 where he scored 313 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 174.86. He scored a hundred and fifty in the tournament for Birmingham Bears (Warwickshire). Interestingly, Stirling has never played in a T20I match against New Zealand and on Monday would look to make his first outing against them a memorable one. If you feel the same, head over to Pari Match and grab the odds of 1.87 for Paul Stirling to score over 20.5 from the IRE vs NZ 1st T20I head-to-head encounter.

My Picks:

Harry Tector to score over 18.5 runs @ 1.832 (1XBET)

Martin Guptill to score over 24.5 runs @ 1.832 (1XBET)

Paul Stirling to score over 20.5 @ 1.87 (Pari Match)