New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell scripted history during the only four-day Test match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.
Playing at No. 6, Blundell hammered a remarkable 186 from 292 balls on the second day of the Test and his innings included 22 boundaries and three sixes, giving New Zealand the upper hand.
Blundell's innings became the highest individual score by a New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter in an away Test match, breaking the 50-year-old record held by Warren Lees who had registered 152 runs against Pakistan in Karachi back in 1976.
Tom Blundell Breaks Major New Zealand Records
Blundell's century was a classic in terms of batting by New Zealand wicketkeeper outside the home soil.
Highest individual score for a New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter in away Tests:
- Tom Blundell - 186 vs Ireland (2026)
- Warren Lees - 152 vs Pakistan (1976)
- Brendon McCullum - 143 vs South Africa (2004)
- Brendon McCullum - 122 vs Zimbabwe (2005)
- Adam Parore - 119 vs Zimbabwe (2001)
Also with this hundred, Blundell joined an exclusive list of cricketers.
Most away Test hundreds by a New Zealand wicketkeeper:
- BJ Watling - 3
- Brendon McCullum - 2
- Tom Blundell - 2
- Warren Lees - 1
- Adam Parore - 1
This was Blundell's second century as a wicketkeeper-batter in an away Test match. Now he is only the third New Zealand wicketkeeper after BJ Watling and Brendon McCullum to have at least two away Test hundreds to his name.
Where Does Blundell Rank Overall?
The overall record is still held by BJ Watling, for the highest score from a New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter in a Test match. Watling reached 205 for New Zealand against England in Mount Maunganui in the 2019 series, he is also the only wicketkeeper from New Zealand to have scored a double hundred in a Test.
Blundell is now in second place on the list with his knock of 186 against Ireland.
Highest Test scores by a New Zealand wicketkeeper:
- BJ Watling - 205 vs England (2019)
- Tom Blundell - 186 vs Ireland (2026)
- Brendon McCullum - 185 vs Bangladesh (2010)
This match between Ireland and New Zealand is being played as one of four-day Tests, introduced in 2017 by the ICC to provide opportunities for Test cricket with a follow-on target reduced from 200 to 150, with a minimum requirement to bowl 98 overs per day.