Ireland opener Paul Stirling, one of the Guyana Amazon Warriors five overseas picks for the Hero Caribbean Premier League 2022, on Friday scored his 13th One-Day International hundred, but New Zealand won an exciting contest by one run.
A brilliant 115 from former Amazon Warriors opener Martin Guptill spurred the Black Caps to 360-6 in the third ODI in Dublin, and the Irish made a spirited chase, but lost by the narrowest of margins.
New Zealand won the series 3-0.
Stirling was outstanding in the run-chase, keeping the Irish in the game right throughout, before they agonizingly fell short in the end.
The right-hander, playing in his 139th ODI, struck 120 off 103 balls, going at a strike rate of 116.50. His innings included 14 fours and five sixes.
Harry Tector also made a hundred (108) as Ireland responded with 359-9.
