Spinner Shoaib Bashir impressed with figures of 4-69, helping England recover from a shaky start to limit New Zealand to 319/8 at the end of Day 1 in the first Test at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval. The game remains evenly balanced after an eventful day of cricket.
England seamers Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse also claimed two wickets each, consistently pulling New Zealand back whenever they seemed to gain momentum.
Strong Performances by New Zealand’s Batters
Kane Williamson fell just seven runs short of a century, while skipper Tom Latham missed a quick fifty by three runs. After tea, England made significant breakthroughs, taking four wickets for just 59 runs.
Lower-order batters Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry stabilized New Zealand’s innings with a partnership of 46 for the eighth wicket. However, Henry departed for 18 after giving Bashir his fourth wicket. Phillips remains unbeaten on 41, partnered by skipper Tim Southee, who is on 10.
Their late contribution might have given New Zealand a slight edge in this gripping encounter.
Kane Williamson Reflects on the Day
“I think both teams worked hard, and from our perspective, we were pleased with the partnerships throughout,” said Williamson.
“But there’s always an opportunity when the ball moves a bit. England fought back well and got rewards late in the day. Overall, both teams will be happy with their efforts.”
England’s Early Moves
After winning the toss and opting to bowl on a green surface, Ben Stokes would have hoped for early wickets. While Atkinson dismissed Devon Conway for just two in the second over, New Zealand’s batters resisted the initial pressure.
Carse broke through before lunch, dismissing Latham on 47 with a sharp edge. Williamson and Rachin Ravindra built a steady partnership of 68 for the third wicket. However, Bashir disrupted their momentum with a full toss that Ravindra hit straight to Zak Crawley, ending his innings at 34.
Key Moments After Tea
At 193/3 at tea, New Zealand seemed well-placed. However, England’s short-ball strategy paid off post-tea.
- Daryl Mitchell (19) fell to Carse, miscuing a short ball into the deep.
- Tom Blundell (17) and debutant Nathan Smith (3) were caught off Bashir’s bowling.
The most significant dismissal came when Williamson, aiming for his 33rd Test century, edged an Atkinson delivery to Crawley at point. It was the first time since 2018 that Williamson was dismissed in the 90s.
The late breakthroughs by England have set the stage for an exciting Day 2, with both teams vying for control.
