LONDON: England’s pace-laden attack shattered New Zealand completely as the touring side was all out on 132 followed by a similar dismal batting performance by the hosts allowing the Kiwis to make their way in the game at the end of the opening day of Lord’s Test.
England, who are on their first assignment under the new leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, put on a show with the ball after the touring side opted to bat first as the coin flipped in the favor of Kane Williamson.
The returning England veteran pacer James Anderson carnage the Kiwi batting lineup before Matthew Potts and Stuart Broad also joined to reduce New Zealand to 45/7 in the 25th over.
New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee displayed grit and put on a valiant 41-run partnership for the eighth wicket before the latter fell short to Anderson after scoring 26.
Following Southee’s departure, de Grandhomme put on two brief partnerships with Ajaz Patel and Trent Boult but the tailenders could not resist for long against the strong England bowling attack and the touring side, eventually, were bowled out for 132.
The right-handed all-rounder de Grandhomme remained the top-scorer for the touring side with his unbeaten 42 off mere 50 deliveries.
For England, Anderson and Potts claimed four each, while Broad and Stokes made one scalp apiece.
In response to New Zealand’s 132, England had a similar dismal show with the bat as the hosts were halted by the combined bowling effort of the touring bowlers.
The openers Zak Crawley and Alex Lees provided a solid start to the side as the pair put on a magnificent 59-run partnership for the first wicket.
The contest appeared to be a one-sided affair before Kyle Jamieson broke the opening partnership as he removed Crawley for 43.
Following his dismissal, the New Zealand bowling attack ripped through England’s defences as the side began to lose wickets at an alarming rate and slipped from 59/0 to 100/7.
Ben Foakes and Broad then managed to carry their bat till the stumps as England finished on 116/7. The two batters will now resume the proceedings for the hosts with a 16 runs deficit.
For New Zealand, Southee, Boult, and Jamieson bagged two wickets, while de Grandhome struck out a batter.
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