Black caps beat Ireland

New Zealand beat Ireland by seven wickets at Derby’s County Ground as both sides warmed up for next month’s World Twenty20.

Jeremy Bray hit a rapid 48 as Ireland batted first, sending seven of his 43 deliveries to the boundary, while teenage batsman Paul Stirling weighed in with 29 in an opening stand worth 70 in 8.3 overs.

Jesse Ryder ensured the Black Caps restricted their opponents to 152 for five, with a game-turning spell of three for four in two overs.

New Zealand lost star batsman Brendon McCullum to the bowling of Peter Connell for just nine but Ross Taylor, with a scintillating 74 off 36 balls, and Martin Guptill (45) saw them over the line with three overs to spare and seven wickets in hand.