new zealand tour of ireland, 2026

Andy McBrine to Dean Foxcroft, out Caught by Reuben Wilson!! Taken at short fine. NZ declare as well. Was a tossed up delivery, on the sticks, Dean Foxcroft goes for the sweep and gets a top-edge. The ball balloons up and the fielder at short fine jumped up to take it. Heart breaking end for Dean Foxcroft who could have gotten a hundred on debut. He has to walk back here. Post drinks, he had upped his strike rate to get to that ton. Got a few chances as well but is unlucky to have fallen 2 short of the ton. Dean Foxcroft c Reuben Wilson b Andy McBrine 98(129) [4s-6 6s-1]

Harry Tector to Dean Foxcroft, out Nathan Smith Run Out!! Nathan Smith has made it? He didn't do so in time. But the keeper fumbled the throw but is the ball in the gloves when the sticks were broken! Yes, the third umpire thinks so. Smith ran as he wanted Dean Foxcroft on strike for the next over but he was well short. The on-field umpire had already signalled it as a leg-bye but had to change the call as it was referred to the third umpire. Nathan Smith run out (Jake Egan/Lorcan Tucker) 17(13) [4s-3]

Reuben Wilson to Blundell, out Caught by (sub)Matthew Humphreys!! Taken this time. Danced down to a length delivery and heaved it down to deep mid. Was an easy take in the deep. Was put away on to the on-side but sans any timing. The fielder back-tracked and took it easily in the deep. No double ton for Tom Blundell as he falls for 186. Maiden Test wicket for Wilson. Blundell c (sub)Matthew Humphreys b Reuben Wilson 186(292) [4s-22 6s-3]

Harry Tector to Rachin Ravindra, out Caught by Thomas Mayes!! A wicket against the run of play! It wasn't a wicket-taking delivery to be honest! A soft dismissal but it has been a terrific knock from Rachin nonetheless. A dragdown from Harry Tector that comes in with the arm on middle and leg. Rachin rocks back and pulls it over mid-wicket but hasn't got the required elevation behind the shot. Thomas Mayes at deep mid-wicket dives to his right to take a well-judged catch. That was traveling but he made it look it simple. Looked like the ball skidded a bit after pitching and the southpaw got it off the bottom half of his bat. The mammoth 217-run stand comes to an end. Ireland will breathe a sigh of relief! With that, the players take Drinks as well. Rachin Ravindra c Thomas Mayes b Harry Tector 121(194) [4s-11 6s-4]

Mark Adair to Daryl Mitchell, out Caught by Lorcan Tucker!! One brings two. Good length shaping away in the channel outside off, Mitchell went poking and sent a healthy edge through to the keeper. Becuase Mitchell was standing outside off, he was lured into playing at a delivery that he could have so easily ignored to the keeper. Daryl Mitchell c Lorcan Tucker b Mark Adair 1(2)

Liam McCarthy to Williamson, out Lbw!! Huge wicket for the debutant. He will remember this for a long, long time. Went short, wide and then came up with a full ball that curved in from a fullish length to trap Kane Williamson plumb in front of the stumps. It went past his inside-edge and looked dead. No hesitation from Rod Tucker. Williamson lbw b Liam McCarthy 36(70) [4s-5]

Mark Adair to Devon Conway, out Caught by Liam McCarthy!! That's an exceptional catch from the debutant! Talk about getting in the thick of things early and Liam McCarthy has pulled off a blinder. Pitched up delivery swinging towards the pads. Devon Conway flicks it with good timing but doesn't bother to keep it down. Liam McCarthy at short mid-wicket leaps to his left like a goalkeeper and grabs it with both hands before tumbling down. He had very less time to react but he showed razor sharp reflexes and made it look simple. The young man will savour this moment for a long long time. Devon Conway c Liam McCarthy b Mark Adair 4(13) [4s-1]

Mark Adair to Tom Latham, out Bowled!! Knocked him over! Mark Adair has struck early and he is cock-a-hoop! He keeps it on a back of a length outside off from round the wicket and gets it to seam in nicely. An error in judgement from Tom Latham as he lifts his bat to let it through. He didn't expect that much seam movement and he gets exposed. The ball goes onto hit the top of off-stump. Tom Latham b Mark Adair 0(2)

Ben Sears to Reuben Wilson, out Caught by Williamson!! Ben Sears ends the innings with a double-wicket maiden! A well-directed short delivery on off that gets big on Reuben Wilson. He gets into an awkward position to fend it off but it catches his glove, hits his helmet and then flies behind. Williamson at third slip takes it safely. Reuben Wilson c Williamson b Ben Sears 0(3)

Ben Sears to Liam McCarthy, out Caught by Williamson!! Sharp take from Williamson in the slip cordon! Good length delivery outside off, Liam McCarthy tries to slash it square of the wicket but doesn't have much space to work with. Ends up getting a thick outside edge to third slip. Williamson shows sharp reflexes to take a good catch. Liam McCarthy c Williamson b Ben Sears 1(10)

Blair Tickner to Thomas Mayes, out Caught by Ben Sears!! Another Irish batter falls to the short ball trap! Tickner hits the deck hard and bowls a sharp short delivery outside leg and gets it to angle across the batter. Mayes pulls it quite well but he hasn't been able to find the gap. Sears at deep mid-wicket dives forward to take a well-judged catch. Thomas Mayes c Ben Sears b Blair Tickner 3(12)

Nathan Smith to Mark Adair, out Caught by Blundell!! The short delivery does the trick! Nathan Smith gets a 6-wicket haul! It's a sharp short delivery that shapes towards the leg-stump. Adair moves inside the line and hops as he tries to fend it away but gets into an awkward position. It climbs up sharply on him and deflects off the shoulder of his bat behind. Tom Blundell moves across to his left to pouch it safely. A good knock from Adair nonetheless. Mark Adair c Blundell b Nathan Smith 40(86) [4s-5]

Zakary Foulkes to Harry Tector, out Lbw!! Howzaaaaaat go the Kiwis and Alex Wharf acknowledges. The full inswinger from Zakary Foulkes and Tector was caught in the crease trying to flick it through mid-wicket. Tried to get his bat in front of pad, but the ball moved a bit more than expected and he was pinned plumb in front of middle. Harry Tector lbw b Zakary Foulkes 16(32) [4s-3]

Nathan Smith to Lorcan Tucker, out Bowled!! My word. Nathan Smith is putting up a clinic here - A maiden five wicket haul for him in Test match cricket. This is almost identical to Balbirnie's dismissal. Touch fuller, wobbles in and sneaks through the bat-pad gate to hit the timber. Tucker had no clue about that one and Ireland find themselves in deep trouble here in Belfast. Lorcan Tucker b Nathan Smith 0(4)

Nathan Smith to Curtis Campher, out Lbw!! Nathan Smith is on fire. Wicket number four for him. Curtis Campher is gone for a golden duck, but did he get unlucky? Got a stride forward and across to a full ball and the ball seemed to have hit him a shade outside the line of off stump. No doubt that was moving enough to hit the stumps, but the impact might be outside off. Rod Tucker had no hesitation whatsoever. Also Campher was well outside the crease and maybe a bit unfortunate for him. Curtis Campher lbw b Nathan Smith 0(1)

Nathan Smith to Balbirnie, out Bowled!! Nathan Smith is bowling superbly. You could sense a great amount of energy and intent in his run-up. The wobble seam length delivery, Balbirnie was rooted to the crease and left enough bat-pad gap in the process, allowing the ball to sneak in and hit the top of off. All three wickets to Nathan Smith so far. Balbirnie b Nathan Smith 13(16) [4s-1]

Nathan Smith to Cade Carmichael, out Caught by Tom Latham!! The new ball is doing a bit. And Ireland are wilting. They are capitulating. Nathan Smith goes wide of the crease, angles it in, Cade Carmichael plays for the line and gets a thick edge. The ball flies to the man at third slip who takes it thigh high and gobbles it up with elan. Ireland are 2 down. Cade Carmichael c Tom Latham b Nathan Smith 0(4)

Nathan Smith to Doheny, out Lbw!! Angled in, fuller length delivery, Stephen Doheny looks to nudge it and misses. The ball strikes the front pad and was given out. He tried playing it with the closed face of the bat and paid the price for it. Easy call it was for the umpire. He got a little squared up as well. Doheny lbw b Nathan Smith 0(2)