DUBLIN:

New Zealand captain Tom Latham praised batter Tom Blundell and bowler Nathan Smith as the Black Caps warmed up for their first test against England at Lord’s next week with a one-sided victory over Ireland in Belfast on Friday.

The tourists won by an innings and 79 runs after putting aside their early struggles with the bat to secure a sizeable victory in the one-off test, with Blundell top-scoring with 186 runs during a 217-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra.

“We were put under pressure ⁠on that first day – to be four down reasonably early with not many on the board,” said Latham after seeing his side fall to 86 for 4 inside the opening 23 overs.

“The introduction of Tom absorbed quite a lot of pressure, and be able to put it back on them and form a really good partnership, over 200.”

New Zealand finished their first innings on 490 for 8 declared before bowling Ireland out for 179 in their first stint at the ⁠crease, with Smith claiming six wickets for 40 runs as the visitors enforced the follow-on.

The Irish could amass only a further 232 runs in their second innings to leave the New Zealanders comfortable winners before the first of their three tests against the ⁠English throughout June.

“A really pleasing performance,” said Latham. “We spoke as a batting unit of getting 400-plus in the first innings, and to get what we did and to push ⁠towards the back end to give us a chance to bowl before lunch.

“Nothing can replicate time on the park and backing days up, so it was ⁠a really good test match for us. We’ll take a little bit of confidence from that into what we’ve got coming up in a couple of weeks. But really pleased.”