Soccer
  • Home
  • Cricket
  • England Collapse As Wickets Tumble On Dramatic First Day Against New Zealand

England collapse as wickets tumble on dramatic first day against New Zealand

A seemingly superb start to the Ben Stokes captaincy era had quickly unravelled by stumps on the first day of the first Test, as England closed on 116/7, 16 runs behind New Zealand.

Seventeen wickets fell on a dramatic first day at Lord's, as England blew an excellent start to series and ended the day clinging to the wreckage of another familiar batting collapse.

England removed a rusty New Zealand for just 132, and began their response batting brightly. Zak Crawley and Alex Lees moved England to 59 for no wicket, before it all fell apart.

Just seven runs short of a half century, Crawley (43) was dismissed by Kyle Jamieson as he nicked behind to Tom Blundell. Ollie Pope (7), in at three, also edged Jamieson behind to Blundell. England were 75 for two and former captain Joe Root joined Lees in the middle.

Root was removed for just 11 runs, with the score on 92-3, and then the procession began. Lees (25), Stokes (1) and Bairstow (1) were all removed cheaply as England limped to 100.

Debutant Matthew Potts went for a two-ball duck leaving Ben Foakes (6) and Stuart Broad (4) to fend off the remaning few overs and drag England to 116. England had lost seven wickets for just 41 after tea.

Earlier, which already seems like a lifetime ago, England dismissed New Zealand for just 132 after lunch, with 39-year-old Anderson, and Durham's 23-year-old debutant Potts taking four wickets each.

Broad also struck, while Stokes wrapped the innings himself by picking up last man Trent Boult.

Unfortunately, Jack Leach suffered a concussion early on after an awkward landing in the field and was replaced by Lancashire leg-spinner Matt Parkinson who will make his debut as England's first ever concussion substitute.

Stokes' first act as the country's 81st Test captain was to lose the toss, but his veteran attack stepped up in dominate the start of the Test

Anderson's seventh ball was nibbled at by Will Young and Jonny Bairstow pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at third slip. The Yorkshireman juggled the next attempt Anderson sent his way but clung on at the second attempt to see off Tom Latham and make it two for two.

Devon Conway nicked one through to give Bairstow his third catch in a row, and give Broad his first of the summer.

Potts took over and produced the goods with his fifth delivery in the international arena, with Kiwi captain and star batter Kane Williamson edging low to keeper Ben Foakes to leave his side in disarray at 12 for four.

Potts' first spell stretched to eight impressive overs as he grabbed another two before the lunch break, Daryl Mitchell (13) playing into his own stumps and Tom Blundell (14) losing his off stump to one that nipped back.

After lunch and with the score at a paltry 39 for six, New Zealand bega to nudge the score beyond three figures, Colin de Grandhomme's unbeaten 42 and 26 from Tim Southee.

Anderson had Kyle Jamieson and Southee caught hooking at fine leg to finish with four for 66, with Potts snaring Ajaz Patel lbw with the first ball of his second spell. He was forced to leave the field with cramp before he could make it onto the Lord's honours board, with Stokes taking over to bring things to a close.

    More Articles