It was all over 35 minutes before tea on day 3 with Ireland bowled out for 232, and victory for New Zealand by an innings and 79 runs.  

The Blackcaps had only to take nine wickets as Curtis Campher joined the long list of injured players when he took a horrible blow from Ben Sears, the tourists fastest bowler, which has left him with a suspected broken left hand.

It summed up a hostile day of bowling on a pitch that was showing its wear and tear with Tickner’s first two wickets popping up and giving Harry Tector and Stephen Doheny little chance of surviving.

Tector had endured one of his most uncomfortable innings, always looking vulnerable  to the short ball and it was no surprise when ne caught him on the glove as he was trying to taking evasive action and the ball flew gently to second slip.

Doheny had reached his first Test 50 when he was also trapped in the crease and could only fend it towards gully where Devon Conway took a fine diving catch. That reduced Ireland to 104 for five and their first innings deficit of 311 seemingly as far away as ever.

Lorcan Tucker and Andy McBrine took the hosts to an early lunch – a rain shower appeared form nowhere and lasted precisely one minute! - and they extended their partnership to 46 on the other side before McBrine cut straight to backward point.

Tucker went on to complete his half century from 69 balls with eight fours and a six but next ball, from Zac Foulkes, he top edge an attempted hook which was too close to him and Daryl Mitchell took  a running catch. 

Mark Adair enjoyed himself  to compile his second 40 of the match from just 47 balls with seven fours and was left stranded at the end when Reuben Wilson give Tickner his first five-wicket  haul in Test cricket, caught at slip.

At the start of the day it was all  about self-preservation and indeed it was 54 minutes before a run was scored from the bowling at the City End as Nathan Smith started with five maidens and Sears followed up with another – a true examination of the batters' skillset.

To be fair to Doheny, he showed he was up to the task and although he had only three scoring strokes in his first 43 balls of thet day, he was never seriously troubled and fully deserved his first Test half-century – and promotion to open the batting in his second Test.

In all he faced 117 balls with only Tucker (70) and Adair facing more than 25 in an innings which lasted 63.2 overs. At least it was 18 overs longer than their  first innings effort.

Unfortunately they have no chance of getting any more red-ball practice/action. Their next  Test match is scheduled for 2027!