Published: May 21, 2015, 10:59 PM (IST)
Edited: May 21, 2015, 11:21 PM (IST)
Jos Buttler smashed a half-century with Moeen Ali steering from the other end, after Joe Root and Ben Stokes’s revival as England ended Day One of the first Test against New Zealand in the driver’s seat after having started poorly in the first session at Lord’s. England were 354 for the loss of 7 wickets at stumps. Live Updates: England vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Lord’s, Day 1
Buttler, who came in after Ben Stokes departed, led the fight back along with Moeen Ali, who arrived after Joe Root‘s dismissal. However, Buttler fell on the final ball of the day as he was trapped leg before by Trent Boult and his innings ended at 67 from 126 balls. Moeen was not out on 49. Buttler hit nine fours in his innings, while Moeen hit eight fours. Buttler smashed his fourth Test half-century. Read: England vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 1 Tea report
For New Zealand, Matt Henry was the premier bowler, picking up three crucial wickets on his debut. Brendon McCullum used five bowlers — four pacers and one spinner. Read: England vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Day 1 Lunch report
Having destroyed England top-order early in the match, McCullum was not able to restrict the hosts as Root, Stokes, Buttler and Moeen steered the England innings. After Stokes-Root’s 161 runs partnership, Buttler and Moeen were involved in a 103 runs partnership for the seventh wicket. The two crucial partnerships helped England revive from 30 for four to 354 for seven at the end of Day One.
Earlier, Stokes led the England‘s recovery before falling short of a hundred. England had been 30 for four when Stokes’s 92 helped them revive their fortunes during a stand of 161 with Root. Sadly, Root also fell two runs short of his Test hundred as he edged Henry and Tom Latham caught behind. This is the first time that the No. 5 and 6 have been dismissed in their 90s in the same innings. Live Scorecard: England vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Lord’s, Day 1
New Zealand won the toss and McCullum decided to bowl first. New Zealand’s pacers, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Henry helped the visitors demolish the England top-order. There were few signs of rustiness as they made the most of a green-tinged pitch, albeit the skies above Lord’s were largely sunny and blue. New Zealand’s Test match at Lord’s against England is their 400th
Debutant Adam Lyth was caught behind off Southee for seven. The 100th Test between England and New Zealand then saw the hosts three wickets for five runs in 15 balls. England-New Zealand play 100th Test
Boult had Gary Ballance caught at third slip for one before England captain Alastair Cook, who had made 16, fell when, beaten for pace by 23-year-old Canterbury quick Henry, he top-edged an attempted hook through to wicket-keeper BJ Watling. Henry then produced another classic fast bowler’s delivery to dismiss Ian Bell for one, a full-length ball pitching on off stump and holding its line.
Brief scores:
England 354 for 7 (Joe Root 98, Ben Stokes 92, Jos Buttler 67, Moeen Ali 49*; Matt Henry 3 for 89, Trent Boult 2 for 70) vs New Zealand.
(Sudatta Mukherjee is a reporter with CricketCountry. Other than writing on cricket, she spends penning random thoughts on her blog. When she is not writing, you will catch her at a movie theatre or watching some English television show on her laptop. Her Twitter handle is @blackrosegal)
