Live updates of day two of the one-off test between the Black Caps and Ireland, from Stormont. Day one reportTwin centuries to Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell have seen the Black Caps make hay on the first day of the one-off test against Ireland in Stormont.The pair’s 217-run partnership helped New Zealand reach stumps at 361-5, with plenty more on the cards when the second day’s play begins on Thursday night. While the first test played between the two nations might be seen as a warm-up for New Zealand’s series against England next month, Ireland did their best to make the Black Caps work on the first day. However, contrasting knocks from Ravindra (121) and Blundell (142 not out) ensured that New Zealand finished the day as comfortably the happier of the two sides.Reaching three figures for the fifth time in test cricket was validation for Ravindra, who left his lucrative Indian Premier League contract early to prepare for Ireland and England, as part of a huge year of red-ball cricket for the Black Caps.The 26-year-old dominated an early partnership of 64 with Kane Williamson (36), before being forced to absorb pressure, and then cash in against a tired attack. Making the innings all the more impressive, Ravindra hadn’t played a competitive match since the T20 World Cup final defeat to India earlier this year.Rachin Ravindra celebrates his century on day one of the one-off test between the Black Caps and Ireland. Photo / PhotosportIt wasn’t a chanceless innings by any means; he was dropped on 56 by Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie at slip. But now with the stature of being New Zealand’s leading batter across all three formats, Ravindra gave another reminder of his burgeoning status as one of the best players in the world.Blundell, meanwhile, will take just as much satisfaction from his innings, and looked as secure at the crease as he has since arguably the Black Caps’ last tour of England in 2022. For all the worries over his form, and seemingly unchallengeable position as the Black Caps’ gloveman for the better part of the last two years, this was Blundell back to his best.Having not passed 50 since December 2024, New Zealand’s wicketkeeper justified the faith shown in him by selectors and teammates alike, and passed 100 in test cricket for the sixth time.Despite the flair of Ravindra at the other end, Blundell was the aggressor in the pair’s partnership, and added more than half of their stand, hitting 18 fours and two sixes, on his way to a new career-best score. Blundell will return to the crease on day two, joined by debutant Dean Foxcroft (38 not out), and look to inflate New Zealand’s total on a surface that’s already shown signs of variable bounce. On a pitch that Black Caps captain Tom Latham said he’d have batted on, Ireland’s seamers backed up their skipper’s call to bowl, led by Mark Adair (3-66) inflicting a top-order wobble to reduce the tourists to 81-4 in the morning session.After reaching lunch with 45 runs, Ravindra passed fifty in the afternoon with his second six over midwicket, needing 87 deliveries for his milestone, after he and Blundell stopped the flow of wickets.Ireland’s attempts to quell the Black Caps’ run rate through spin were rubbished by Blundell – who sent Andy McBrine over long-on for his first six, on his way to 50 in 81 balls, and then reverse-swept for four for good measure.And while it took the pair 105 deliveries to add their first 50, their second came off only 60, as more than 100 was scored in the second session alone, as Ravindra and Blundell reached tea at 214-4.Tom Blundell celebrates his century against Ireland in Stormont. Photo / PhotosportA slash wide of second slip to the third man boundary took Ravindra into the 90s after tea, as a punch out to deep point took him to 99. As was the case when he went to 50, it was another pull over the ropes that took Ravindra to three figures from 175 balls, with 10 boundaries and three sixes.Blundell wasn’t far behind, as he worked quickly through the nervous 90s, and reached his milestone from 173 deliveries with a reverse swept four, before hitting three more boundaries and a six in the next over to motor past Ravindra’s score.A Ravindra six off McBrine raised New Zealand’s 300 before drinks in the final session, only to hole out to deep midwicket to the part-time spin of Harry Tector, and depart for a well-made 121 off 194 balls.But any thoughts of Ireland going through New Zealand’s lower order were misplaced, as Foxcroft arrived to add 50 in 85 balls with Blundell to finish the opening day.New Zealand 361-5 (Blundell 142 not out, Ravindra 121; Adair 3-66)Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.