The pair put on 217 for the fifth wicket to help rebuild an innings teetering at 86 for four.
Ravindra was undone on 121. But Blundell remained unbeaten on 142 heading into day 2 and the wicketkeeper-batter helped his side through to a solid position of 361 for five at stumps.
The visitors will no doubt feel some relief.
Their maiden test against the Irish started poorly. Very poorly.
The ball was hooping around and right-arm medium pacer Mark Adair was bending the ball both ways.
Opener Tom Latham made a fateful decision to shoulder arms to the second ball of the game.
It swung back in and crashed into the top of the off stump. Oops.
Plenty of club players have done the same thing, but probably with a skinful of Guinness on board.
Adair was ecstatic. And more joy awaited the 30-year-old.
Latham’s fellow opener, Devon Conway, clipped a delivery in the direction of Liam McCarthy, who leaped to his right at midwicket and snaffled a cracker.
Conway looked on in disbelief. Not at the catch but at the space where he should have deposited the legside half-volley.
Adair nabbed a third when Daryl Mitchell nicked off cheaply.
Kane Williamson’s dismissal for 36 was a big moment for the Irish.
McCarthy trapped the former New Zealand captain lbw. It was his maiden test wicket and one he will treasure.
But Ireland did not have the firepower to keep the pressure on the Black Caps.
Normal service resumed.
Ravindra swivelled into a pull shot and dispatched McCarthy for six to bring up his fifth test century.
Blundell was in the better batting rhythm, though. He employed the sweep nicely and used the shot to bring up his sixth century.
His position in the side has become tenuous with the arrival of Canterbury gloveman Mitchell Hay.
There were some raised eyebrows when Blundell was preferred. But he played an important knock and found some late support from former Otago all-rounder Dean Foxcroft, who is undefeated on 38.
The test is a four-day match, so it will be interesting to see what approach the Black Caps take in the morning session.
Nathan Smith is next in, but there is not a lot of batting depth in the tail.
Zak Foulkes has some potential with the bat, but his first-class record suggests a short stay at the crease.
New Zealand’s bowling lineup is missing some star power. Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke and Kyle Jamieson are sitting this one out.
In a sideline interview, Ravindra praised Ireland’s play.
‘‘Ireland bowled really well, put some pressure on us, bowled in some great areas and really made use of the surface and the nip that was in it.
‘‘We recognised how well they were bowling and obviously had to give ourselves time and play the right way with that Duke ball swinging around and luckily enough we were able to score at the back end.’’
