IRE vs NZ, one-off Test: Rachin Ravindra makes up for IPL bench time with red-ball ton

Rachin Ravindra made up for the time spent warming the bench for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2026 by smashing his fifth red-ball hundred to take New Zealand into a position of strength at the end of day 1 in the one-off Test against Ireland.

The Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast, became witness to a historic occasion on Wednesday (May 27) when Ireland met the Kiwis for the first time in red-ball cricket history.

The Irish skipper, Andy Balbirnie, won the toss and chose to bowl on a surface that had plenty of movement for the seamers up front. Mark Adair struck with the second ball of the match when he cleaned up Tom Latham with a big inswinger from round the wicket. Latham failed to judge the lateral movement and shouldered arms only to see his off-stump disturbed.

What a ball, Sparky!

A bit of swing with the new ball dismisses Blackcaps captain Tom Latham, 2nd ball of the match 🏏@solar_failte | #BackingGreen ☘️🏏 pic.twitter.com/tLwyGSCEbm

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) May 27, 2026

Adair struck soon to remove Devon Conway as the southpaw failed to keep his flick shot along the ground and was taken brilliantly by debutant Liam McCarthy at midwicket.

A look back at Liam McCarthy's diving catch from the morning session 🤩@solar_failte | #BackingGreen ☘️🏏 pic.twitter.com/rQneKniVZU

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) May 27, 2026

Kane Williamson and Ravindra then added 64 runs for the third wicket to steady the rocking ship of the tourists. Williamson (36 off 70) paid the price of playing across the line to an incoming delivery by McCarthy and was adjudged LBW by umpire Rod Tucker.

Adair came back into the attack and removed Daryl Mitchell for just 1 to leave New Zealand reeling at 86/4 in 22.1 overs. But as it usually happens when a team short on red-ball experience plays an outfit on the other side of the spectrum, Ireland failed to take the game by the scruff of its neck and were made to pay.

Adair needed support from other bowlers, but the two other debutants, Thomas Mayes and Reuben Wilson, couldn't produce any breakthroughs. 

Rachin and Blundell put Kiwis into driver's seat

Ravindra and Tom Blundell took their time and abstained from playing for the gallery. They wore the Irish attack down and pounced on anything loose. Ravindra dispatched 11 balls to the boundary along the ground and four over the ropes. The southpaw added 217 runs for the fifth wicket alongside Blundell.

He threw his wicket away while trying to smoke Harry Tector over deep midwicket and holed out. Meanwhile, Blundell proved yet again why he remains a part of New Zealand's plans in Test cricket. The wicketkeeper registered a composed ton, studded with 18 fours and two maximums and remained unbeaten on 142 before the umpires called stumps. 

He has stitched a 58-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Dean Foxcroft (38*) and has propelled New Zealand into a commanding position at 361/5.