Lord's century for Kane Williamson   23 May 2015

DAY THREE

First Innings: England 389 (Root 98, Stokes 92, Buttler 67, Ali 58; Henry 4-93, Boult 4-79) v BLACKCAPS 523 (Guptill 70, Latham 59, Williamson 132, Taylor 62, McCullum 42, Watling 61*; Broad 3-77, Wood 3-93, Ali 3-94) in the First Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Second Innings: England 74-2 (Cook 32*, Bell 29*); England trail by 60 runs with 8 wickets in hand

Scorecard

Kane Williamson made history today when he became the 13th New Zealander to score a century at Lord’s and etch his name into the Honours Board at the Home of Cricket.

The 24-year-old, who began the day on 92 not out in the overcast and cool conditions, brought up his 10th Test ton with a late cut down to third man to become the first BLACKCAP to score 100 here since Jacob Oram in 2008.

He rewrote the record books to become only the eighth cricketer – all legends of the game – to record 10 Test match centuries before the age of 25 and confirm his status as one of the most exciting talents in world cricket.

Ross Taylor congratulates Kane Williamson on reaching a special hundred

Williamson (132) was the mainstay of the BLACKCAPS batting effort as he combined with Ross Taylor (62), Brendon McCullum (42) and BJ Watling (61*) as New Zealand managed 523 for a first innings lead of 134 runs.

In reply, England were 74-2 at stumps with Alistair Cook (32*) and Ian Bell (29*) at the crease in the fading light. They trail by 60 runs with eight wickets in hand.

Debutant Adam Lyth (12) and Gary Ballance (0) were the Englishmen back in the Pavilion after Trent Boult and Tim Southee claimed early wickets.

The talking point of the day was the stoic performance of Williamson. He reached his century in 148 balls in a patient knock that included 12 boundaries.

He followed in the footsteps of Stewie Dempster (1931), Curly Page (1931), Martin Donnelly (1949), Bev Congdon (1973), Mark Burgess (1973), Vic Pollard (1973), Geoff Howarth (1978), Trevor Franklin (1990), Martin Crowe (1986, 1994), Matt Horne (1999), Mark Richardson (2004) and Jacob Oram (2008) as Kiwis who have raised their bat at the Home of Cricket.

He also joined the illustrious company of players to have amassed 10 Test centuries by the age of 25; adding his name to a list that includes Sir Donald Bradman, Garry Sobers, Sachin Tendulkar, Javed Miandad, Alistair Cook, Graeme Smith and Neil Harvey.

Shortly after Williamson’s century, Taylor brought up his 25th half century in Test cricket. He was later caught down the leg side by a superb sprawling catch from Jos Buttler.

That brought inspirational skipper Brendon McCullum to the crease who hit a risk and reward innings of 42 from 38 deliveries before he got a top edge from debutant Mark Wood to third man, where he was caught by Joe Root.

Brendon McCullum got off the mark with a four

Corey Anderson (11), playing in his first Test match at Lord’s, was also undone by Buttler’s athleticism down the leg side when a Wood delivery flicked his glove.

Williamson and BJ Watling, who returned for the first time after having suffered a blow to the knee keeping on day one, added a 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

His marathon innings of six hours and 18 minutes came to an end when he was caught at short leg from the bowling of Moeen Ali. He walked off to a standing ovation from the full house.

Ali picked up his second wicket in three balls when he trapped Mark Craig in front for a duck. England was buoyant again and they claimed the final five wickets for 53 runs.

Stuart Broad, Wood and Ali all toiled hard to claim three wickets apiece.

Today however, will be remembered as the time when Kane Williamson added his name to the history at Lord’s.

Day Four of the First Test at Lord’s will begin at 10pm NZ time (11am at Lord's)

DAY TWO

A determined and patient batting performance has seen the BLACKCAPS claim the honours on day two of the First Test against England at Lord's.

New Zealand, looking to win at the Home of Cricket for the first time since 1999, rallied early as they claimed the final three wickets for only 35 runs in 10.5 overs to bowl England out for 389.

Trent Boult

BLACKCAPS openers Martin Guptill (70) and Tom Latham (59) then combined beautifully to put on 148 for the first wicket, before Kane Williamson (92*) and Ross Taylor (47*) continued the momentum with a gritty, unbeaten partnership of 155 runs.

The BLACKCAPS finished the day at 303-2, trailing England by 86 runs still with eight wickets in hand heading into day three.

The opening partnership was a bullish effort. Guptill, on his return to the Test arena and playing his First Test at Lord's, recorded his 13th Test half century with his 115-ball 70, while Latham produced his fourth Test match half century in only his 10th
Test.

Martin Guptill was in scintillating touch

Both players looked comfortable at the crease, batting for almost 35 overs before Latham was trapped in front by off-spinner Moeen Ali. Two balls later, Guptill hit a lofted drive through the covers off the bowling of Stuart Broad and picked out Garry Ballance.

All of a sudden the crowd found their voice and England was back in the Test match.

It was a high point for the home side, who will rue some missed opportunities in the field. Guptill was fortunate to survive on 24 before lunch. He was caught at first slip by England captain Alastair Cook after edging a ball from debutant Mark Wood, but a review showed it to be a no-ball after Wood overstepped his mark.

Latham also had a life, put down after edging through to Ian Bell at third slip from the bowling of Ben Stokes.  

After some early jitters, including a missed run-out opportunity from Broad, Taylor and Williamson consolidated for the visitors and swung the momentum back in their favour. Williamson went on to bring up his 16th half century in Tests, and was well supported by Taylor, who grew with confidence throughout the innings.

Williamson now sits eight runs shy of getting his name up on the Lord's Honour Board, while the BLACKCAPS are in position to build a big first-innings lead.

Earlier in the day, the BLACKCAPS' bowling attack clinically finished off the English innings. Trent Boult, who had claimed Jos Buttler on the final ball on day one, picked up two further wickets to finish with figures of 4-79 from 29 overs.

He removed danger man Moeen Ali (58) when he had him caught behind by stand-in keeper Latham in the 94th over. Matt Henry then completed a special Test debut when he claimed the final wicket of the innings. The 23-year-old had James Anderson caught and bowled to make history at the Home of Cricket with 4-93 from 23.5 overs, the best figures by any New Zealand debutant at Lord's.

Henry had usurped Jack Cowie's record, Cowie having claimed 4-118 for New Zealand way back in 1937.

DAY THREE begins at 10pm New Zealand time (11am at Lord's).

Matt Henry made history on debut at Lord's

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.

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.

Brendon McCullum about to win the toss. Images: Photosport.co.nz

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.

Matt Henry relished his first day of Test cricket with three wickets

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.

Ben Stokes, England's New Zealand-born batsman, and Joe Root combined strongly

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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