A sensational knock from No.7 batter Michael Bracewell has denied Ireland an upset one-day victory over the Blackcaps at Dublin.
Bracewell whacked a 72-ball century, including 20 off the final over, to lift New Zealand to a one-wicket win over the hosts.
Chasing an imposing 301 target, the Blackaps battled back from 153/6 to claim an unlikely victory in their first of three ODIs.
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl, and captain Tom Latham's decision looked to have paid off almost immediately.
Fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry removed both Irish openers within the first six overs, before Dublin's own Harry Tector came to the crease to torment New Zealand's fielders.
Tector hit 113 runs off 117 balls, including 17 boundaries, in a blistering knock. He was well supported by Andy McBrine (39) and Curtis Campher (43), as Ireland set an imposing target for the Blackaps.
Ferguson finished the pick of the bowlers with a couple of wickets, while Blair Tickner and Ish Sodhi also managed two apiece.
New Zealand's run chase didn't get off to the best of starts, losing opener Finn Allen and Will Young inside the first five overs.
Latham and Henry Nicholls followed soon after, as the Blackcaps found themselves 83/4, with still a mountain to climb.
A solid fifty from opener Martin Guptill helped restore New Zealand's innings, but wickets continued to tumble. Bracewell did his best to keep the Blackcaps within reach of the target, but was running out of batting partners.
The all-rounder brought up his ton off just 72 balls in the 47th over, but a fine penultimate over from Ireland bowler Mark Adair left it all to do for Bracewell.
Requiring 20 to win off the last over, Bracewell needed just five balls, as he hit as many boundaries - including two huge sixes - to deny Ireland another sporting upset over New Zealand.
Bracewell was quick to label it as the finest knock of his career.
"Yes, certainly, it is," he said. "I don't really have words to describe it at the moment, but I just enjoyed every moment of it.
"We lost a few wickets through the middle, so had to do a bit of rebuilding. We managed to get a few partnerships in there.
"We bat all the way down and that is something we take pride in as a team. We try to take the games deep and put the opposition under pressure, and fortunately, it worked for us today."
