Ireland vs New Zealand, Live Score: Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell both hit tons in epic 200-run stand
THE TIMES OF INDIA | May 28, 2026, 22:03:54 IST
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Ireland vs New Zealand, Live Score: Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell both hit tons in epic 200-run stand

Ireland vs New Zealand Test: The historic one-off Test between Ireland and New Zealand at Stormont, Belfast marks the first-ever red-ball meeting between the two nations. Ireland won the toss and opted to bowl first, hoping to make the most of the early seam and swing on offer in typical Belfast conditions.

Match Context & Conditions

This standalone four-day fixture is a landmark occasion for Irish cricket, with Ireland hosting one of the world’s top Test sides in a rare home red-ball encounter. Since Ireland are not part of the World Test Championship cycle, no WTC points are at stake.

The Stormont surface is traditionally known for assisting fast bowlers, especially in the opening session, with plenty of movement off the pitch and through the air. However, warmer temperatures in Belfast over recent days could also bring spinners into the contest as the match progresses.

Team News & Key Players

Ireland

Ireland have been dealt a major setback with experienced batter Paul Stirling ruled out after suffering an injury during a recent four-day warm-up game.

The hosts will rely heavily on Mark Adair to lead the pace attack. Adair comes into the match in excellent form after registering match figures of 6 for 80 in Malahide.

With the bat, wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker remains Ireland’s biggest hope. The right-hander has been one of their most reliable performers in Test cricket, averaging an impressive 43.93 in the format.

New Zealand

New Zealand enter the contest as overwhelming favourites thanks to their experienced Test setup and formidable pace attack.

Captain Tom Latham is on the verge of a milestone, with one more Test victory set to draw him level with Brendon McCullum and Geoff Howarth as New Zealand’s fourth-most successful Test captain.

The Blackcaps will bank on their strong seam unit featuring Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears to exploit the helpful conditions in Belfast.

Ireland rarely get opportunities to play Test cricket, and hosting a red-ball match at home is an even rarer event. Facing the former world champions will provide added motivation for the hosts as they aim to prove themselves in the longest format of the game.

For New Zealand, this fixture serves as valuable preparation ahead of their upcoming three-match Test series against England. With both sides having played very little red-ball cricket recently, adapting quickly to the conditions will be crucial.

The conditions at Stormont are expected to produce a fascinating battle between bat and ball. Seamers are likely to enjoy assistance early on, but as the game wears on, spin could gradually become a factor as well. Expect a competitive and hard-fought contest over the next four days.
22:03 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 179/9 (44.5 overs)
0
Overs44.5
Score179 - 9

Ben Sears to Reuben Wilson, Good length, around off, shaping away from the batter. Reuben Wilson pokes at it away from his body but gets beaten on his outside edge.

22:03 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 179/9 (44.4 overs)
0
Overs44.4
Score179 - 9

Ben Sears to Reuben Wilson, Back of a length, around off, Reuben Wilson keeps it out.

22:02 (IST) May 28

Reuben Wilson walks out last to bat for Ireland. 

22:01 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 179/9 (44.3 overs)
W
Overs44.3
Score179 - 9

Ben Sears to Liam McCarthy, OUT! CAUGHT! Good length, around off, going across the batter, Liam McCarthy doesn't move his feet towards the pitch of the ball and slashes hard at it. Liam gets it edged off the outside edge towards Kane Williamson at second slip. Kane moves well to his left and takes a good catch to send Liam back. Ireland still trail by 311 runs. 

22:00 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 179/8 (44.2 overs)
0
Overs44.2
Score179 - 8

Ben Sears to Liam McCarthy, Short and wide of off, Liam McCarthy doesn't offer any stroke at it.

22:00 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 179/8 (44.1 overs)
0
Overs44.1
Score179 - 8

Ben Sears to Liam McCarthy, Back of a length, around off, Liam McCarthy pokes at it away from his body but gets beaten on his outside edge.

21:59 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 179/8 (43.6 overs)
Score after 44 overs 179 - 8
Runs Scored: 0
005(1NB)0411(1LB)
  • Liam McCarthy 1 (7)
  • Andy McBrine 73 (105)
Blair Tickner8-1-40-1
1lb
Overs43.6
Score179 - 8

Blair Tickner to Liam McCarthy, LEG BYE! Hard length, onto the pads, Liam McCarthy tickles this off his pads to fine leg for a leg bye.

21:58 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 178/8 (43.5 overs)
1
Overs43.5
Score178 - 8

Blair Tickner to Andy McBrine, Bouncer, around off, Andy McBrine guides this towards the third man region for a single. 

21:57 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 177/8 (43.4 overs)
4
Overs43.4
Score177 - 8

Blair Tickner to Andy McBrine, FOUR! Blair looks to go short again but this one doesn't climb enough on the batter. Andy McBrine steps inside yet again and pulls this flat to the left of the long leg fielder for four runs. 

21:57 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 173/8 (43.3 overs)
0
Overs43.3
Score173 - 8

Blair Tickner to Andy McBrine, Short and around the leg side, Andy McBrine leaves it.

21:56 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 173/8 (43.3 overs)
1nb
Overs43.3
Score173 - 8

Blair Tickner to Andy McBrine, NO BALL AND FOUR! Blair has overstepped here as he looks to dig one short around off, Andy McBrine moves away to his leg side and opens up the off side. Cuts this through the point region for a boundary. No Ball from Blair. 

21:55 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 168/8 (43.2 overs)
0
Overs43.2
Score168 - 8

Blair Tickner to Andy McBrine, Good length, down the leg side, Andy McBrine steps inside the line and goes for a flick but misses out.

21:55 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 168/8 (43.1 overs)
0
Overs43.1
Score168 - 8

Blair Tickner to Andy McBrine, Blair goes top-deck, around off, going across the batter. Andy McBrine backs away and looks for the upper cut but misses out.

21:54 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 168/8 (42.6 overs)
Score after 43 overs 168 - 8
Runs Scored: 0
001000
  • Liam McCarthy 1 (6)
  • Andy McBrine 64 (99)
Ben Sears7-0-27-0
0
Overs42.6
Score168 - 8

Ben Sears to Liam McCarthy, Full and wide of off, Liam McCarthy shoulders his arms at it. 

21:53 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 168/8 (42.5 overs)
0
Overs42.5
Score168 - 8

Ben Sears to Liam McCarthy, Hard length, around off, Liam McCarthy opens the face of his bat and guides this to the right of the backward point fielder for no run.

21:52 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 168/8 (42.4 overs)
0
Overs42.4
Score168 - 8

Ben Sears to Liam McCarthy, Full and wide down the leg side, Liam McCarthy goes for a flick and misses.

21:52 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 168/8 (42.3 overs)
1
Overs42.3
Score168 - 8

Ben Sears to Andy McBrine, Back of a length, around off, Andy McBrine jumps up on his toes and pushes this through point for a single. 

21:51 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 167/8 (42.2 overs)
0
Overs42.2
Score167 - 8

Ben Sears to Andy McBrine, Good length, around off, Andy McBrine pushes this to cover-point.

21:50 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 167/8 (42.1 overs)
0
Overs42.1
Score167 - 8

Ben Sears to Andy McBrine, Full and wide outside off, Andy drives this to covers.

21:49 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 167/8 (41.6 overs)
Score after 42 overs 167 - 8
Runs Scored: 0
00(W)0110
  • Liam McCarthy 1 (3)
  • Andy McBrine 63 (96)
Blair Tickner7-1-30-1
0
Overs41.6
Score167 - 8

Blair Tickner to Liam McCarthy, Bouncer, on leg, Liam McCarthy ducks down uncomfortably and leaves it.

21:49 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 167/8 (41.5 overs)
1
Overs41.5
Score167 - 8

Blair Tickner to Andy McBrine, Short-pitched delivery, around the pads, Andy McBrine tickles this towards fine leg for a single. 

21:48 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 166/8 (41.4 overs)
1
Overs41.4
Score166 - 8

Blair Tickner to Liam McCarthy, Back of a length, around the pads, Liam McCarthy works this through square leg for a single. 

21:47 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 165/8 (41.3 overs)
0
Overs41.3
Score165 - 8

Blair Tickner to Liam McCarthy, Short and around off, Liam McCarthy gets up on his toes and guides this to backward point.

21:46 (IST) May 28

Liam McCarthy walks out next to bat.

21:45 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 165/8 (41.2 overs)
W
Overs41.2
Score165 - 8

Blair Tickner to Thomas Mayes, OUT! CAUGHT! The change in bowling has worked for the visitors. Blair bowls it from around the stumps, darts a short one around the leg side, Thomas Mayes gets inside the line and pulls this one. Thomas hits this well but straight into the hands of Ben Sears at the deep square leg fence. Ireland are 165 for 8 now.

21:44 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 165/7 (41.1 overs)
0
Overs41.1
Score165 - 7

Blair Tickner to Thomas Mayes, Back of a length, around the leg side, Thomas Mayes comes inside the line and goes for a flick but misses.

21:44 (IST) May 28

Blair Tickner has been introduced into the attack for the first time after the Tea break.

21:42 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 165/7 (40.6 overs)
Score after 41 overs 165 - 7
Runs Scored: 0
210001
  • Thomas Mayes 3 (10)
  • Andy McBrine 62 (95)
Nathan Smith14-3-40-6
1
Overs40.6
Score165 - 7

Nathan Smith to Thomas Mayes, Much fuller, on middle and leg, Thomas Mayes rolls his wrists and flicks it to deep fine leg for a single.

21:42 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 164/7 (40.5 overs)
0
Overs40.5
Score164 - 7

Nathan Smith to Thomas Mayes, Pitches it up, does Smith, on off, Thomas Mayes pushes it to the left of the bowler.

21:41 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 164/7 (40.4 overs)
0
Overs40.4
Score164 - 7

Nathan Smith to Thomas Mayes, Back of a length, going down the leg side, Thomas Mayes swings and misses.

21:40 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 164/7 (40.3 overs)
0
Overs40.3
Score164 - 7

Nathan Smith to Thomas Mayes, Peach of a delivery! Good length, on off, angling in, but nips it away from the batter. Thomas Mayes attempts to defend to his front, but gets nicked off the outside edge. The ball rolls toward the right of the backward point fielder.

21:40 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 164/7 (40.2 overs)
1
Overs40.2
Score164 - 7

Nathan Smith to Andy McBrine, Short on middle, McBrine pulls it to deep backward square leg for a comfortable single.

21:39 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 163/7 (40.1 overs)
2
Overs40.1
Score163 - 7

Nathan Smith to Andy McBrine, Pitches it a touch fuller, on off, McBrine goes deep into the crease and clips it to the right of the deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

21:38 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 161/7 (39.6 overs)
Score after 40 overs 161 - 7
Runs Scored: 0
012000
  • Thomas Mayes 2 (6)
  • Andy McBrine 59 (93)
Zakary Foulkes11-3-32-1
0
Overs39.6
Score161 - 7

Zakary Foulkes to Thomas Mayes, Back of a length, just outside off, Thomas Mayes defends it down from his back foot.

21:37 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 161/7 (39.5 overs)
0
Overs39.5
Score161 - 7

Zakary Foulkes to Thomas Mayes, Short of a length, on off, Thomas Mayes pulls it to square leg.

21:37 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 161/7 (39.4 overs)
0
Overs39.4
Score161 - 7

Zakary Foulkes to Thomas Mayes, Good-length delivery, on off, Thomas Mayes knocks it to the left of the bowler.

21:36 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 161/7 (39.3 overs)
2
Overs39.3
Score161 - 7

Zakary Foulkes to Thomas Mayes, On a length, on leg, Thomas Mayes clips it wide of the square leg fielder and gets a brace.

21:35 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 159/7 (39.2 overs)
1
Overs39.2
Score159 - 7

Zakary Foulkes to Andy McBrine, Hard-length delivery, shaping in, on middle and leg, Andy McBrine clips it to deep square leg for one.

21:35 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 158/7 (39.1 overs)
0
Overs39.1
Score158 - 7

Zakary Foulkes to Andy McBrine, Angling in, around off, on a nagging length, Andy McBrine blocks it to the right of the bowler.

21:33 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 158/7 (38.6 overs)
Score after 39 overs 158 - 7
Runs Scored: 0
4(4B)000(W)4(4LB)0
  • Thomas Mayes 0 (2)
  • Andy McBrine 58 (91)
Nathan Smith13-3-36-6
0
Overs38.6
Score158 - 7

Nathan Smith to Thomas Mayes, On a length, on off, Thomas Mayes works it to the leg side.

21:33 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 158/7 (38.5 overs)
4lb
Overs38.5
Score158 - 7

Nathan Smith to Thomas Mayes, FOUR LEG BYES! Good-length delivery, angling around the pads of the batter. Thomas Mayes swings and misses. However, the ball just brushes the pads of the batter and bounces away toward deep fine leg for four runs.

21:32 (IST) May 28

Thomas Mayes walks up next as the new batter at the crease.

21:31 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 154/7 (38.4 overs)
W
Overs38.4
Score154 - 7

Nathan Smith to Mark Adair, OUT! TAKEN! The Kiwis were desperate to break this seventh-wicket partnership of Ireland, and guess who stepped up? It's Nathan Smith yet again, bagging his sixth wicket. This is yet another sharp bouncer, from Smith, angling into the batter's lane. Mark Adair doesn't duck this time, he looks to tuck it, but the ball gets some assistance from the deck as it gets some extra bounce. The ball hits the high end of the bat, and it loops toward the left of the keeper, Tom Blundell, who takes the sitter safely into his gloves.

21:30 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 154/6 (38.3 overs)
0
Overs38.3
Score154 - 6

Nathan Smith to Mark Adair, Short and just outside off, Mark Adair looks for an upper cut but misses.

21:29 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 154/6 (38.2 overs)
0
Overs38.2
Score154 - 6

Nathan Smith to Mark Adair, On a length, on off, Mark Adair blocks it to the leg side.

21:29 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 154/6 (38.1 overs)
0
Overs38.1
Score154 - 6

Nathan Smith to Mark Adair, FOUR BYES! Ireland won't mind these free runs. Back of a length, angling down the leg side. Mark Adair looks to pull it away, but misses. The ball gets some late swing and goes past the left of the keeper, before the ball driblles toward deep fine leg for four runs.

21:28 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 150/6 (37.6 overs)
Score after 38 overs 150 - 6
Runs Scored: 0
010001
  • Mark Adair 40 (82)
  • Andy McBrine 58 (91)
Zakary Foulkes10-3-29-1
1
Overs37.6
Score150 - 6

Zakary Foulkes to Mark Adair, Back of a length, on off, Mark Adair rides the bounce and tucks it to deep square leg for a single. 150 up for Ireland!

21:27 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 149/6 (37.5 overs)
0
Overs37.5
Score149 - 6

Zakary Foulkes to Mark Adair, Pitches it up, does Foulkes, just outside off, but nips in sharply, moving down the leg side. Mark Adair once again shuffles across the stumps and misses his flick. Adair needs to stay calm at this moment.

21:26 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 149/6 (37.4 overs)
0
Overs37.4
Score149 - 6

Zakary Foulkes to Mark Adair, Short, just outside off, Mark Adair makes a leave at it.

21:26 (IST) May 28
Ireland vs New Zealand Live Score : 149/6 (37.3 overs)
0
Overs37.3
Score149 - 6

Zakary Foulkes to Mark Adair, Swing and a miss! Back of a length, on middle. Mark Adair shuffles way outside off and looks for a wild swing, but misses. 

259 More Updates
Ireland vs New Zealand Test: Ireland and New Zealand are facing off in a historic one-off Test at Stormont, Belfast — the first-ever Test match between the two nations. Ireland won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to exploit the seam-friendly conditions early on.

Ireland will miss experienced batter Paul Stirling due to injury, while Mark Adair leads the pace attack after strong recent form. Lorcan Tucker remains their key batter in the middle order.

New Zealand enter as heavy favourites with a powerful pace attack featuring Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears. Captain Tom Latham is also close to becoming one of New Zealand’s most successful Test captains.

Although no World Test Championship points are at stake, the match is significant for Ireland, who rarely get opportunities to play and host Test cricket. For New Zealand, it serves as preparation for their upcoming Test series against England.