BLACKCAPS tour of England: First Test at Lord's   22 May 2015

First innings at stumps on Day One: England 354-7 in 90 overs (Root 98, Stokes 92, Buttler 67, Ali 49*; Henry 3-93 on Test debut)

DAY ONE

After a brilliant opening session from the BLACKCAPS bowling attack, England fought back tenaciously on day one of the First Test at Lord’s.

Heading to stumps with England at 354-7, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Test debutant Matt Henry had had the hosts in all sorts of bother early on, reducing them to 30-4.

Scorecard

However, the home side boasted a deep batting line-up, and a 161-run partnership from Joe Root (98) and Ben Stokes (92) brought the home side back into the Test match.

Spinner Mark Craig produced a beauty to bowl Ben Stokes

Root carried on with Jos Buttler (67), and had looked destined to bring up his third century at Lord’s (and seventh in his overall Test career) before being caught behind by stand-in keeper Tom Latham in the 64th over, off the bowling of Henry.

The final delivery of the day was a winner for Trent Boult as he accounted for Buttler, trapping him in front. At the end of 90 overs, Moeen Ali (49*) remained and will return tomorrow alongside Stuart Broad, their side in a strong position.

Henry was one of the standout performers for New Zealand at the Home of Cricket, concluding the day with figures of 3-93 from his 24 overs. It was just reward for the 23-year-old, who had toiled hard all day and constantly asked questions of the English batsmen.

Earlier in the day, BLACKCAPS skipper Brendon McCullum had won the toss and elected to field first in what was the hottest day of the English spring to date, in front of a full house.

The experienced seam attack of Southee and Boult did not disappoint, delivering a superb opening spell of swing bowling to set the tone.

Last time he was at Lord’s, Southee had got his name on the Honour’s Board with 10 wickets in the match. This time he got the first breakthrough, getting England debutant Adam Lyth (7) caught behind by BJ Watling in the eighth over. Boult then removed Garry Balance (1), Southee taking a fine low catch at third slip.

Henry, who became the 266th New Zealander to don the black cap, picked up his first Test wicket when he bounced England captain Alistair Cook and got the edge through to Watling. England lost two wickets in three balls to be 25/3 and the BLACKCAPS were off to a dream start.

It got even better. If Henry’s first dismissal of Cook was something to celebrate, claiming the wicket of Ian Bell (1) will be something he will always remember. The Canterbury paceman bowled Bell with a perfect out-swinging delivery which clipped the top of his off stump. 

England was reeling at 30/4 before Root and Stokes came together and turned things around.

England’s premier batsman of the last 12 months, Root was irrepressible. He played his shots freely to bring up his 10th half century and proved the mainstay of the English effort.

The Yorkshireman was well supported by Stokes, who became the aggressor after lunch. The latter looked set to add his name to the Honour’s Board of the home dressing room when he was bowled by Mark Craig in the 45th over.  

BLACKCAPS wicketkeeper BJ Watling did not return to the field after lunch after having suffered a blow to his right knee. He spent the remainder of the day with his knee up, and will be assessed ahead of Day Two tomorrow morning.

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