While New Zealand can take huge positives into the first test against England, namely through the form of Tom Blundell and Rachin Ravindra – who scored 186 and 121 respectively – coach Rob Walter will have tough choices to make to decide his bowling attack for Lord’s.
Smith and Tickner have both put their hands up for the fourth seamer spot, alongside Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke. However, both could also be retained for the next test, with Henry battling a hamstring worry.
Meanwhile, 98 on debut for Dean Foxcroft did his chances of earning a second test cap no harm, with Glenn Phillips yet to end his time with the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League, and will arrive in England with no red ball match practice.
Blair Tickner celebrates a wicket on day three of the one-off test against Ireland at Stormont. Photo / Getty Images
However, with this test being the first of 14 New Zealand will play in the next 12 months, 13 of them being for World Test Championship points, the Black Caps’ red ball side have started exactly as they’ll hope to carry on.
Resuming at 65-2, still 246 runs away from making the Black Caps bat again, Ireland lost nightwatchman Thomas Mayes (5) in the fifth over of the day, when he edged to Daryl Mitchell at slip to give Smith his first of the innings, and seventh of the match.
Having been not out overnight on 36, Stephen Doheny reached 50 in 96 balls, but could only watch wickets fall from the other end. Harry Tector (2) fended a short ball to Latham to give Tickner his third, as Curtis Campher (4) retired hurt and sent to hospital with a suspected broken hand after copping a delivery from Ben Sears.
Tickner had his fourth before the end of the morning session when he ended Doheny’s stay for 57 when a bouncer was fended to a diving Devon Conway coming forward at gully, as rain arrived to bring an early lunch with the hosts at 131-5, still 180 runs in arrears.
After being the last man standing in Ireland’s first innings with an unbeaten 73, Andy McBrine made just 13 before cutting Zak Foulkes (1-50) straight to Smith, as the Black Caps moved closer to victory.
Blair Tickner and Nathan Smith both struck early for the Black Caps on the third day against Ireland. Photo / Photosport
Lorcan Tucker, Ireland’s leading test run-scorer, passed his 50 in 69 deliveries, but didn’t manage another when a top-edged pull was accepted by Mitchell, to give Smith his eighth and leave the hosts out of specialist batters.
Amid a Mark Adair counter-attack which recorded the only 50-run stand of the innings, Smith was denied the chance for a maiden 10-wicket match haul when Liam McCarthy was run out by Tickner at 223-8, attempting to get his partner back on strike.
In the end, Adair was left stranded on 44, as Tickner claimed Reuben Wilson’s outside edge to Mitchell, and held the ball aloft for the first time, as he led the Black Caps from the field.
The Black Caps will now bank an extra day’s rest before departing for London, where the first test against England begins on June 4.
New Zealand 490-8d
Ireland 179 & 232-9 (Doheny 57, Tucker 50; Tickner 5-76)
New Zealand win by an innings and 79 runs
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.