Andrew Balbirnie has admitted there remains a gap between Ireland and the top teams in T20 cricket but believes they have shown they are a much better team than 12 months ago.

 

This time last year, Ireland were sent crashing out in last year’s first round by Namibia; yesterday they posted their fourth total of 150 in this year’s tournament against New Zealand, whose 35 runs victory confirmed their place in next week’s semi-finals.

 

“There’s a couple of moments in the last few games where you thought, what if?,” said Balbirnie. “But at the same time, we’re still a bit away from these top teams. We need to keep improving and playing regular cricket against them so we improve and expand our squad as much as we can.

 

“At the start of the tournament, I said getting to the Super 12s was our aim and (the tournament) will be deemed successful. We’ve played some pretty good cricket and it’s just a shame we couldn’t create something really special.

 

“We’re by no means the finished article but we certainly are a better team than we were 12 months ago and that’s all you can ask. Hopefully in 12 months time, we’ll be even better than we are now.”

 

If Ireland want to prove it at the next T20 World Cup they are going to have to go through a regional qualifier in Scotland next July where Netherlands are also likely to be lying in wait and only two European countries will make it to USA/West Indies in 2024.

 

The defeat, which included a hat-trick from Josh Little and an opening partnership of 68 in eight overs between Paul Stirling and Balbirnie, condemned Ireland to a fifth place finish in Group One of the Super 12s, with only Afghanistan below them following their defeat by Australia last night. Only the top four, in each group, gained automatic qualification to the next World Cup.

 

Little, who also hit the only six after the first wicket stand, completed his stellar tournament on a high, becoming only the sixth bowler to take a hat-trick a T20 World Cup, and the second Irishman after Curtis Campher’s four in four against Netherlands last year.

 

Black Caps captain Kane Williamson, who top scored with 61 – his last  35 runs came from 15 balls - was Little’s first victim, caught at long leg, immediately after he had hit Barry McCarthy for six, four six. Jimmy Neesham and Mitchell Santner were then both leg before wicket with his next two balls to give Little 11 wickets in the tournament, only Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga has taken more.

 

“Josh has had a great 12-18 months,” said his skipper. “He sets the tone from the off and bowls really well in the powerplay. He’s got such a big future ahead of him and is a key asset for us, no doubt.”

 

It was a conversation between Williamson and his two spinners, Santner and Ish Sodhi, which led to Ireland’s downfall. After Stirling and Balbirnie took 29 off their first two overs, they slowed their pace and claimed four wickets for 28 in their next six overs.

 

“We know how dynamic that batting line-up of Ireland is and they’ll keep taking it on,” said Williamson.” They (his spinners) bowled beautifully to make that adjustment quickly and adjust their line and take a few Ks off their deliveries, which definitely made it more difficult.”

 

It settled the match and for the second successive World Cup in Australia, Ireland’s journey ended in Adelaide.