Ireland paceman Josh Little has taken a hat-trick as New Zealand set his side 186 runs to win their vital T20 World Cup game.
Little claimed three wickets on consecutive balls in the 19th over as the Kiwis posted 6-185 in Friday afternoon's Adelaide Oval fixture.
Little dismissed skipper Kane Williamson - who top-scored with 61 from 35 balls - caught on the leg-side boundary before removing Jimmy Neesham and Mitch Santner for golden ducks.
Both Neesham and Santner were trapped lbw by the left-arm quick and failed to overturn their verdicts on video review.
Little finished with 3-22.
The New Zealanders must defeat the Irish to retain pole position to enter the semis.
They hold top spot in their group from England and Australia but all nations have five points.
Australia meet Afghanistan on Friday night in Adelaide while England play Sri Lanka on Saturday at the SCG in the last game of the group.
But the Kiwis hold a healthy buffer on net run-rate, with a win over Ireland near certain to lock in a semi-final appearance.
Their innings against Ireland got away to a flyer with Finn Allen (32 from 18 balls) blasting five fours and a six - he and opening partner Devon Conway (28 from 33) reaching a 50-run stand from only 35 deliveries.
Williamson (five fours, three sixes) scored a half-century from 32 balls while Daryl Mitchell (25 from 17) and Glenn Phillips (17 from nine) made handy cameos.
