Ireland vs New Zealand: The visitors won the only Test against Ireland

One of Tests, Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont (three days out of four)

New Zealand 490-8 Dec (119 overs): Blundell 186, Foxcroft 98; Tector 1-16

Ireland 179 all out (45 overs) Balbirnie 73*, Adair 40; Smith is 6-40 and 232-9 (63.2 overs) Doheny 57, Tucker 50; Tickner 5-76

New Zealand won by an innings and 79 runs

Scorecard

New Zealand beat Ireland by an innings and 79 runs on the third day of the only Test at Stormont.

Ireland started the third day on 65-2 after New Zealand applied the follow-on and the Black Caps had a huge mountain to climb to get past their declared total of 490-8 (December).

They could only muster 232-9 in 63.2 overs in their second innings, which ended after Reuben Wilson’s dismissal as Curtis Kampfer retired with a hand injury before lunch.

Blair Tickner took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket for New Zealand on the third day.

Heinrich Malan’s side struggled in the morning session in cloudy Belfast and added just 66 runs to their total.

Tom Mayes and Lorcan Tucker got out early and Stephen Doheny brought up his first half-century in Test cricket as Ireland went past 100, leaving for 57 before a lunch break due to rain.

Campher then suffered an injury retirement as Ireland’s woes continued in the afternoon session with the dismissals of Andy McBrien (13) and Lorcan Tucker (50), the latter picking up his eighth wicket of the match after the brilliant Nathan Smith made 50 in the fifth Test.

Mark Adair and Liam McCarthy helped Ireland post 179 in their first innings, but Test debutant McCarthy slipped into a sprint and was run out for 11 as New Zealand edged closer to victory.

Tickner (5-76) ended the game before tea to confirm their win after dismissing Wilson.

New Zealand now look forward to their upcoming three-Test series against England next month, while Ireland will also be back as they face India in two Twenty20 internationals at Stormont in June.