Yet another loss for Ireland

New Zealand was threatened briefly but recovered to record a 129-run win over Ireland.

The Kiwis appeared to be in trouble at 189 for seven but a 71-run partnership off 43 balls between Brendon McCullum (47) and James Franklin (34 not out) guided them to a competitive score of 263 for eight.

Then the left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, ably supported by Jeetan Patel and Shane Bond, dismissed Ireland for 134 with 12.2 overs remaining.

Bond started the destruction and then Vettori and Patel took the last six wickets for just nine runs from 31 balls.

Bond removed openers Jeremy Bray (one) and William Porterfield (11) in his opening five-over spell. Bray edged to wicket-keeper McCullum while Porterfield's attempted pull flew off the top edge and Scott Styris ran around from slip to take the catch.

McCullum then took his second catch to dismiss Eion Morgan (15) off Jacob Oram as Ireland slipped to 35 for three in the 13th over.

Brothers Niall (30) and Kevin O'Brien (49) added some substance to Ireland's total with a battling fourth wicket partnership of 75 runs from 95 balls. Kevin, who struck two fours and three sixes, was run out when Hamish Marshall hit the stumps from point.

Niall's 75-ball innings ended when Patel had him caught by Oram at midwicket and Vettori trapped Andre White (0) leg before with Ireland's score at 127 for six.

Both Trent Johnston (13) and Peter Gillespie (two) went at 133, with Patel trapping the Irish captain lbw and Vettori having similar success against Gillespie.

One run later, Vettori bowled Kyle McCallan (0) and trapped Boyd Rankin with the next ball to end the match.

Earlier, Man of the Match Peter Fulton's top score of 83, his sixth ODI half-century and first in the World Cup, stabilised the Kiwis innings against some steady bowling from Ireland.

Fulton, who opened the innings and was fifth out, struck nine fours in his 110-ball knock.

Off-spinners McCallan and White claimed two wickets each.

Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming, who won the toss and elected to bat, and Fulton shared an opening stand of 35, before Fleming (10) sliced the lanky Rankin to point where Porterfield held the catch.

Marshall (16) and Styris (10), both fell to Langford-Smith's swing while Craig McMillan (22) was McCallan's first victim as New Zealand was struggling.

Marshall was caught by Morgan while Styris slashed at a slower delivery from Langford-Smith and was caught by O'Brien.

Fulton and McMillan added 35 before McMillan was out. Then Fulton was out leg before while attempting to sweep McCallan. White then got the wickets of Oram and Vettori (five) as the Kiwis plunged to 189 for seven.

Then McCullum and Franklin had a rollicking stand. McCullum hit two fours and one six in his knock of 47, while Franklin's unbeaten 34 had three fours and a six.

The Scores

Super Eight: New Zealand v Ireland. New Zealand won by 129 runs.

New Zealand: P. Fulton lbw b McCallan 83; S. Fleming c Porterfield b Rankin 10; H. Marshall c Morgan b Langford- Smith 16; S. Styris c N. J. O'Brien b Langford-Smith 10; C. McMillan c Johnston b McCallan 22; J. Oram c Morgan b White 20; B. McCullum c Morgan b Johnston 47; D. Vettori c N. J. O'Brien b White 5; J. Franklin (not out) 34; S. Bond (not out) 0; Extras (b-3, lb-1, w-12) 16. Total (for eight wkts., in 50 overs) 263.

Fall of wkts: 1-35, 2-59, 3-83, 4-118, 5-172, 6-181, 7-189, 8- 260.

Ireland bowling: Langford-Smith 10-1-41-2; Rankin 8-0- 55-1; Johnston 10-0-63-1; McCallan 10-0-35-2; White 10- 0-45-2; K. J. O'Brien 2-0- 20-0.

Ireland: W. Porterfield c Styris b Bond 11; J. Bray c McCullum b Bond 1; E. Morgan c McCullum b Oram 15; N. J. O'Brien c Oram b Patel 30; K. J. O'Brien (run out) 49; D. Johnston lbw b Patel 13; A. White lbw b Vettori 0; P. Gillespie lbw b Vettori 2; W. McCallan b Vettori 0; D. Langford-Smith (not out) 0; W. Rankin lbw b Vettori 0; Extras (lb-3, w-8, nb-2) 13. Total (in 37.4 overs) 134.

Fall of wkts: 1-5, 2-22, 3-35, 4-110, 5-125, 6-127, 7-133, 8- 133, 9-134.

New Zealand bowling: Franklin 8-1-27-0; Bond 5-0- 18-2; Oram 6-2-15-1; Patel 7-1- 32-2; Vettori 8.4-1-23-4; Styris 3-0-16-0.

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