Ireland lost their third Super Eights game comprehensively here in Georgetown as a late onslaught by New Zealand's batsmen changed the character of a match that earlier in the day had begun to swing Ireland's way.
At 189 for 7 off 42 overs, the New Zealanders were looking decidedly shaky. That they went on to amass 263 says much about their all-round strength as, like England a week ago, they plundered tired Irish bowling in the final five overs of their innings.
A frustrating eighth wicket stand of 71 in 43 balls between Brendan McCullum and James Franklin turned a below par total in to an intimidating one.
The depth of batting in this side was shown by Franklin, the Kiwi number 10 who has a Test century to his name.
Their late-order bludgeoning ruined Trent Johnston's figures. The captain's first eight overs conceded 32 runs, his last two a further 31, including one huge six by McCullum which sailed back over the bowler's head and smashed a window in the Providence National Stadium's brand new media centre.
Faced with such a target, the Ireland innings was always behind the pace. From a high point of 110 for 3, the Ireland innings descended to 134 all out, the last seven wickets falling for 24 runs in nine overs.
Early in the day, New Zealand's decision to bat was taken in the light of Bangladesh's giant-killing performance on this ground a few days before, when their three spinners tormented the South Africans on a pitch that turned more as the day went on.
It was a lethargic start, with Boyd Rankin bowling a series of loose overs, including seven wides. It was something of a shock then when he then removed Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming with a good ball.
The slow pace of the wicket was demonstrated by some imaginative field placements as Johnston employed his close catchers in front of the wicket, at short extra cover, rather than at slip.
The pick of the Ireland bowlers was the off-spinning duo of Kyle McCallan and Andrew White, who bowled in tandem to tie down a New Zealand middle order that has lit up this tournament.
Bowling at a pace that perfectly suited the pitch, McCallan finished with figures of 2 for 35 off his 10 overs.
Their ability to contain even the most aggressive batsmen was shown by the innings of Jacob Oram, who walked to the wicket with an barnstorming reputation and an 2007 average of 97 in all ODIs. Oram walked back to the pavilion having scored 20 from 48 balls, all in singles.
Jeremy Bray came to the wicket with two noughts from his last two innings. Such was his desire to avoid a third he risked a single to Oram at point who threw down the stumps at the bowler's end as Bray dived for his ground, leaving a decision too close for the TV cameras to call. He went quickly after, to a brute of a ball from Shane Bond, the quickest bowler in the tournament.
He was certainly too quick for William Porterfield's pull shot, which top edged over slips and was caught running backwards by Scott Styris.
As has so often been the case, Morgan and Niall O'Brien consolidated following the early wickets, and pressure was exerted by tight Kiwi bowling on a run rate that did not rise above three an over.
Attempting to free the shackles, Morgan hit a beautiful pull shot off the left arm swing of Franklin, the most uninhibited shot he has played in the tournament so far. He went next over, bringing Kevin O'Brien to join his brother.
The younger O'Brien has been in and out of the side, but his batting here showed a real maturity, as he hit a series of boundaries, including three sixes struck with a short arm jab, the follow through barely reaching hip height. He outscored his brother by two to one.
He was one short of a deserved half-century when disaster struck.
Called by his brother for a short single, he was then sent back half way and run out by several feet.
As Kevin walked off, Niall held his head in despair.
Perhaps trying to make up for the error, the elder O'Brien was then out as he ran down to Patel lofting him to deep midwicket.
His exit precipitated a rush of Ireland wickets as the pressure of a run rate above a run a ball proved to much.
New Zealand Won Toss
New Zealand Innings
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 O'Brien b Langford-Smith 10
C McMillan c Johnston b McCallan 22
J Oram c Morgan b A White 20
B McCullum c Morgan b Johnston 47
D Vettori c N O'Brien b A White 5
J Franklin not out 34
S Bond not out 0
Extras (b3 lb1 w12) 16
Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) ... 263
Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-59, 3-83, 4-118, 5-172, 6-182, 7-190, 8-261.
Did Not Bat: J Patel.
Bowling: Langford-Smith 10-1-41-2, Rankin 8-0-55-1, Johnston 10-0-63-1, McCallan 10-0-35-2, A White 10-0-45-2, K O'Brien 2-0-20-0.
Ireland Innings
W Porterfield c Styris b Bond 11
J Bray c McCullum b Bond 1
E Morgan c McCullum b Oram 15
N O'Brien c Oram b Patel 30
K O'Brien run out (Marshall/Styris) 49
T Johnston lbw b Patel 13
A White lbw b Vettori 0
P Gillespie lbw b Vettori 2
K McCallan b Vettori 0
D Langford-Smith not out 0
B Rankin lbw b Vettori 0
Extras (lb3 w8 nb2) 13
Total (37.4 overs) ... 134
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-22, 3-35, 4-110, 5-125, 6-127, 7-133, 8-133, 9-134.
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.
Umpires: S Bucknor and S Taufel
New Zealand won by 129 runs
