BELFAST: Blair Tickner took his first fivewicket haul in Test cricket as New Zealand hammered Ireland by an innings and 79 runs in a oneoff match at Civil Service Cricket Club ground in Belfast on Friday.
The comprehensive victory saw New Zealand win with more than a day to spare in a match that was only scheduled for four days rather than the standard five of most Tests It was also a confidence-building success for the Black Caps ahead of next week’s clash against England at Lord’s, the first match in a three-Test series.
Ireland, dismissed for 179 in the first innings, started the third day on 65-2.
New Zealand had declared on a commanding 490-8 featuring Tom Blundell’s 186, Rachin Ravindra’s 121 and debutant Dean Foxcroft’s 98, with captain Tom Latham later enforcing the follow-on.
The Black Caps, however, were 86-4, with Kane Williamson among those dismissed, after losing the toss before Ravindra and Blundell shared a fifth-wicket stand of 217.
Ireland rarely looked like making New Zealand bat again, but they did at least manage an improved 232 in their second innings.
Tickner, in his fifth Test, did the bulk of the damage with the medium-fast bowler’s return of 5-76. Ireland opener Stephen Doheny made 57 and wicket-keeper Lorean Tucker exactly 50, with allrounder Mark Adair 44 not out. The match ended with Ireland nine wickets down following Reuben Wilson’s dismissal as Curtis Campher had retired hurt with a hand injury before lunch.-AFP