Sports

Bracewell hat trick seals T20I series for Kiwis

AP

Dane Cleaver's 78 not out and Michael Bracewell's hat trick powered New Zealand to an 88-run win over Ireland to clinch their T20I series 2-0 at Stormont on Wednesday.

New Zealand posted 179-4 and bowled out Ireland for 91 to secure its fifth straight win over the hosts. The visitors beat Ireland by 31 runs on Monday after a 3-0 series win in the ODIs at Malahide.

New Zealand can sweep the three-match T20 series on Friday.

Cleaver's total came off 55 balls and included five fours and four sixes in just his second T20I appearance. Finn Allen contributed 35 off 20.

Ish Sodhi took three wickets for 21 and Ireland was at 86 for seven when Bracewell came on for his first over. The off-spinner had Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy caught in the deep with successive deliveries before Craig Young sliced to backward point from the next ball as Ireland was all out for 91.