KIWIS TAKE CONTROL

Ireland unable to maintain smart start as New Zealand get into the groove 

IT was a day Reuben Wilson will never forget. The teenage fast bowler yesterday became the 663rd man to make his debut for Ireland, and the very first to do so in a Test match.

The 19-year-old who plays for Clontarf began his day being presented with his Ireland cap by Harry Tector, a former clubmate at the now defunct YMCA.

He bowled exceptionally, showing why the Ireland selectors took a chance on him. Keeping a tight, accurate line, he managed to swing the ball both ways and asked serious questions of all New Zealand’s batters.

The one thing he wasn’t able to bring to the party was luck.

Shortly before lunch Tom Blundell got an edge to an outswinger but although third slip dived to his right the ball did not carry.

But when Rachin Ravindra was on 56, he edged to Harry Tector at first slip. Perhaps fearing the ball would not carry to Tector, Andrew Balbirnie dived across him but the skipper’s attempted grab fell to earth.

Wilson finished his first day as a Test cricketer with figures of 18-2-54-0, having never bowled as many balls in a day before.

The rest of the Irish attack, including two more debutants in Liam McCarthy and Tom Mayes, also deserved their rest last night, but perhaps none more than the leader of the attack Mark Adair, who took 3-66 off his 20 overs.

Balbirnie won the toss and asked the visitors to bat, a surprising move but one vindicated by the early swing that yielded two early wickets. The four seamer ploy both sides adopted meant there was no room for Matthew Humphreys.

Adair sprang into action early, taking a wicket with the second ball of the match, Kiwi skipper Tom Latham leaving a delivery that swung into rattle the top of his off stump.

Then, on 21-2, the first ball of Adair’s fourth over was full on Dean Conway’s pads, but the batter splayed a flick in front of square leg, where McCarthy flung himself far to his left and hung on to a beauty at full stretch.

Kane Williamson and Ravindra shored up the innings before the world’s No.3 batsman played all round a delivery that McCarthy angled in, the bowler overjoyed when Rod Tucker raised his finger.

Two balls later it was 86-4 and Ireland were on top, keeping the runs down to just over 100 in the 150 minute session, conceding just 14 boundaries.

However, Ravindra and Blundell settled in for the afternoon, racking up their century partnership in 165 balls and passing the record fifth-wicket stand against Ireland.

They had still not been separated at tea, having added 110 in 27 overs, with Blundell especially severe on the spinners.

Ravindra reached his 100 with a six off McCarthy from the 175th ball he faced.

Blundell was two balls quicker to the landmark, reverse sweeping Andrew McBrine for four.

Ireland’s overrate was causing concern — sides must bowl 15 overs per hour, at pain of losing 5 per cent of their match fee for every over they underbowl at the end of the match.

They’re already staring at a 20 per cent cut.

The 300 came up in the 77th over but, on 121, Ravindra inexplicably dragged a Tector long hop down to deep midwicket where Mayes held on.

Adair bowled a fiery spell with the second new ball but grew increasingly frustrated as the batsmen played and missed.

Play was extended to 7pm thanks to that tardy overrate, and debutant Dean Foxcroft (38no) looked comfortable as he helped Blundell to his Test best score of 142 and a total of 361-5.

With Stormont looking a picture, a near-capacity crowd was rewarded with an absorbing day’s cricket.

But Ireland will rue letting the game get away from them in the afternoon after getting on top before lunch.

With three days left to play, and more good weather in store, there is plenty still to happen in this engrossing Test match.