Nathan Smith six-fer puts New Zealand in commanding position on Day 2

Nathan Smith's six-fer helped New Zealand firmly consolidate their dominance over Ireland on Day 2 of the one-off Test in Belfast. Resuming the morning from their comfortable overnight position of 361 for 5, the visitors declared on 490/8 after the overnight batters, Tom Blundell (186) and Dean Foxcroft (98) both missed out on their respective milestones.

Smith then rocked Ireland's first innings with a fifer to reduce them to 34/5 before they folded for 179 in their first innings as he added a sixth wicket to his tally. At Stumps, Ireland, who were asked to follow on, were two down for 65 with a deficit of 246 still on the board.

Overnight centurion Blundell continued in the same vein to convert his knock into a monumental 186 runs off 292 deliveries. He smashed 22 boundaries and three sixes before finally falling to Reuben Wilson, 14 short of what could have been a fine double. Blundell found an exceptional partner in Foxcroft, who provided steady support in a brilliant 158-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Foxcroft batted aggressively, hitting six fours and a six, but faced late heartbreak when he was dismissed by Andy McBrine just two runs short of a maiden Test century, and one on debut.

In reply, Ireland's first innings got off to a disastrous start as they faced a relentless opening burst from New Zealand's bowling attack. Smith turned the game decisively on its head in his very first over, claiming a double-wicket maiden by dismissing both Stephen Doheny and Cade Carmichael for ducks. The Irish top-order collapsed under immense pressure, crumbling to a precarious 38 for 6 as Smith ran through the batting lineup claiming five of those. Off his fifer, four of the batters dismissed couldn't even open their accounts.

Andy McBrine fought briefly for his 73 runs, and Mark Adair managed 40 with the duo stitching a 116-run stand to frustrate the tourists. It was Smith again who managed to get the breakthrough, claiming his sixth and triggering a late collapse from 165/7 for the hosts to be bundled out for 179.

Ireland's start following-on was much better, with the openers putting on a 47-run stand. The resistance was short-lived though, as Blair Tickner picked up two quick wickets to leave them in a spot of bother with opener Doheny holding fort on 36 not out.

Brief scores: Ireland 179 (Andy McBrine 73*; Nathan Smith 6-40) & 65/2 (Stephen Dohney 36*; Blair Tickner 2-14) trail New Zealand 490/8 decl. (Tom Blundell 186, Rachin Ravindra 121, Dean Foxcroft 98; Mark Adair 3-66) by 246 runs