Delhi: On the second day of the only Test being played in Belfast, New Zealand completely strengthened its hold on the match. After starting the day with a score of 361/5, the visiting team declared their first innings at 490/8 and put Ireland under pressure.

Great partnership between Blundell and Foxcroft

Tom Blundell and Dean Foxcroft displayed excellent batting for New Zealand.

Blundell played a brilliant inning of 186 runs in 292 balls, which included 22 fours and 3 sixes. At the same time, Dean Foxcroft also played aggressively and scored 98 runs, but he remained just two runs away from his first Test century. There was an important partnership of 158 runs between the two for the sixth wicket, which took the team to a big score.

Nathan Smith’s bowling wreaked havoc, Ireland’s first innings collapsed

After this, Nathan Smith completely destroyed Ireland’s batting in bowling.

He bowled a lethal spell in the beginning and sent Stephen Doheny and Cade Carmichael to the pavilion without opening the account. Smith took a total of 6 wickets in the entire innings, due to which the Ireland team was reduced to 179 runs.

Ireland follows on, struggle continues in second innings too

After falling behind by a huge margin in the first innings, Ireland had to play follow-on. Although the start in the second innings was a little better and the openers made a partnership of 47 runs, but soon Blair Tickner put the team in trouble again by taking two wickets.

Till stumps, Ireland’s score was 65/2 and the team is still 246 runs behind.

short score

Ireland: 179 (Andy McBrine 73*, Nathan Smith 6/40) and 65/2
New Zealand: 490/8 declared (Tom Blundell 186, Rachin Ravindra 121, Dean Foxcroft 98; Mark Adair 3/66)
New Zealand’s lead: 246 runs