Ireland vs New Zealand, Only Test, New Zealand tour of Ireland, 2026 - Player HighlightsIRE vs NZ, Only Test, New Zealand tour of Ireland, 2026 - Player Highlights

Blair Tickner to Balbirnie, out Caught by Blundell!! That is a terrible shot from the Irish skipper and he knows it as well. Slams the bat with his gloves before trudging back to the pavilion. A perfect teaser from Blair Tickner, fullish and asking Balbirnie to play a drive. He falls for the trap and looks to drive straight with hard hands. Result? A thick outside-edge and a straightforward take for the keeper. Balbirnie c Blundell b Blair Tickner 14(23) [4s-3]

Ben Sears to Balbirnie, 1 run, goes on the back foot and nudges the length delivery square on the leg-side

Ben Sears to Balbirnie, no run, short of length outside off, Balbirnie lets it go

Nathan Smith to Balbirnie, no run, once again from wide of the crease, but the length is much shorter - allowing Balbirnie to get behind the line and defend into the off-side

Nathan Smith to Balbirnie, no run, lovely bowling this from Nathan Smith. Goes wide of the crease and angles it in on a length, Balbirnie hangs his bat out to dry and gets beaten on the outside-edge

Nathan Smith to Balbirnie, no run, full and challenging the off stump channel, Balbirnie blocks it under his eyes

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, no run, good length just outside off, a pushy forward defence into the off-side

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, no run, swinging in from a length on off, Balbirnie once again behind with a solid straight bat

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, no run, back of a length on and around off, Balbirnie defends it gently into the mid-wicket region

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, no run, short of length on off, Balbirnie defends it from the crease

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, no run, banged in short and beats the attempted pull. Balbirnie was through the shot a bit too early and took a blow on his right forearm. The physio is out to check on him and we will have a brief delay here...

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, no run, short of length on off, Balbirnie stays on the back foot and blocks

Nathan Smith to Balbirnie, 1 run, back of a length outside off, Balbirnie gets across and tucks it wide of mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Balbirnie, no run, full ball on off, Balbirnie flicks and picks out the man at mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Balbirnie, no run, a chirpy appeal for lbw turned down! A back of a length delivery seaming sharply towards leg-stump. Balbirnie hangs back to keep it out but gets beaten on the inside edge to get rapped on the pads. It was too high and also sliding down leg

Nathan Smith to Balbirnie, no run, back of a length delivery on the sixth stump channel, Balbirnie shoulders arms to it

Nathan Smith to Balbirnie, no run, short of length delivery shaping in on middle and leg, keeps a bit low, Balbirnie blocks it towards covers

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, FOUR, three boundaries off the over! On a length on off, Andrew Balbirnie hops and tucks it uppishly over mid-wicket

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, FOUR, back of a length delivery angling down leg, Balbirnie moves inside the line and tickles it through the gap between the keeper and leg gully

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, no run, short of length delivery seaming in on off, Balbirnie camps back and pushes it back to the bowler

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, FOUR, lovely timing! Fuller length delivery swinging in towards middle and leg, Balbirnie stays well-balanced and flicks it through mid-wicket. The chase is on but the ball wins the race

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, no run, back of a length in the channel, Balbirnie covers the line and defends it towards covers

Zakary Foulkes to Balbirnie, no run, full delivery swinging in on off, driven on the up to mid-off