Belfast: Right-arm pacer Nathan Smith led Ireland’s batting department with a six-wicket haul in the first innings before slapping New Zealand with a follow-on on the second day of a Test match at the Civil Service Cricket Club on Thursday.
At the end of play on the second day, the home side were 65/2 and 246 runs behind, with opener Stephen Doheny and nightwatchman Thomas Mayes unbeaten on 36 and 4 respectively.
On an early second day, the visitors resumed their first innings from 361/5 with Centurion wicketkeeper batsman Tom Blundell and debutant Dean Foxcroft.
The duo extended their overnight sixth-wicket partnership to 158 runs following Ireland’s bowling attack, with Blundell falling prey to Ruben Wilson to top score 186 off 292 balls with 22 fours and 3 sixes.
Foxcroft, on the other hand, formed a brief partnership with Smith and Zach Foulkes before Andy McBrien was the victim of a well-deserved century on Test debut as he scored 98 off 129 balls with the help of 6 fours and a six.
His dismissal prompted New Zealand captain Tom Latham to declare the first innings at 490/8 in the dying minutes of the first session.
Mark Adair took 3 wickets for 66 runs in 20 overs in the first innings for Ireland, while Liam McCarthy, Harry Dektor, Wilson and McBrien took one each.
In turn, the home side’s batting unit was rocked by Smith and despite McBrien’s unbeaten half-century managed to amass 179 runs before being bowled in 45 overs.
McBrien top scored for Ireland with an unbeaten 73 off 105 balls with 12 boundaries. He shared a 116-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Adair, who made a notable contribution with 40 off 86 balls.
Smith led New Zealand’s relentless bowling with 6 for just 40 with 14 fours, Ben Sears with 2, Blair Tickner and Foulkes chipping in with a scalp each.
After being forced to follow on, the home side started their second innings with flying colors as their opening pair of Doheny and Andy Palbirnie put on 42 runs in 10 overs.
But Blair Tickner dismissed the captain (14) and Kate Carmichael (six) in quick succession to bring the total to 57/2 before Doheny and nightwatchman Mayes bowled the day’s 15 balls.