One-off test, Belfast: New Zealand 490-8 declared (Tom Blundell 186, Rachin Ravindra 121, Dean Foxcroft 98; Mark Adair 3-66) vs Ireland 179 (Andy McBrine 73 not out, Adair 40; Nathan Smith 6-40) and 65-2. Click here for full scorecard.
With his bigger name team-mates absent, seamer Nathan Smith grabbed his opportunity.
Smith’s six-wicket haul on day two of the test will have sealed his spot for the series-opener in England, as the Black Caps continued to dominate the four-day encounter versus Ireland.
Smith took 6-40 as the hosts were rolled for just 179 in their first innings on day two in Belfast overnight (NZ time).
New Zealand captain Tom Latham then somewhat surprisingly made Ireland follow-on, 311 runs behind on their first innings after the Black Caps had declared in the first session at 490-8.
