New Zealand Dominates Ireland Ahead of England Test Series with Innings Victory
New Zealand showcased their strength ahead of the upcoming Test series against England by securing a resounding innings-and-79-run victory over Ireland in a four-day match at Stormont. The Black Caps will face Ben Stokes' England at Lord's starting June 4, followed by games at The Kia Oval from June 17 and Trent Bridge from June 25, all broadcast live on Sky Sports. In this one-off Test, New Zealand declared their innings at an impressive 490-8, with standout performances from Rachin Ravindra (121) and Tom Blundell (186), both scoring centuries, while Dean Foxcroft narrowly missed out on a hundred with 98. Ireland struggled in their first innings, bowled out for 179, with Nathan Smith taking 6-40. Following on, Ireland fared slightly better but were dismissed for 232, concluding the match in under three days. Blair Tickner was instrumental in the second innings, claiming 5-76, including four of Ireland's top five batsmen and the final wicket of Reuben Wilson. Historically, New Zealand remains the last away team to win a Test series in England, achieving a 1-0 victory in 2021. Since then, the teams have met in three series: England swept the Black Caps 3-0 at home in 2022, while a two-Test series in New Zealand in 2023 ended in a 1-1 draw. England also claimed a 2-1 victory on New Zealand soil in late 2024.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-05-29