New Zealand on top as England toil in first Test

Agence France-Presse

London // England took two wickets in quick succession after New Zealand’s openers shared a century partnership on Day 2 of the first Test at Lord’s on Friday.

The loss of the opening pair proved the only wickets to fall for the tourists as they were 303 for two at stumps, 86 runs behind England’s first innings 345.

Kane Williamson (92 not out) and Ross Taylor (70no) saw the Kiwis safely through the final session after Martin Guptill (70) and Tom Latham (59) had put on 148 for the first wicket.

The not-out batsmen today will be looking to increase their partnership of 155, although it almost came unstuck in the penultimate over yesterday when Williamson went down the pitch to off-spinner Moeen Ali, who got one to turn sharply from off to leg and England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler missed the stumping chance.

It was Ali who earlier succeeded where England’s quicks had failed trapping Latham lbw as the left-hander tried to play to the legside. It ended a 95-ball innings featuring 10 fours and just the fifth New Zealand century opening stand in a Test in England.

Latham’s innings was all the more impressive after he had kept wicket for 75 overs following first-choice gloveman BJ Watling going off injured on Thursday.

Next over, Guptill carelessly drove a Stuart Broad outswinger low to Gary Ballance at cover.

Guptill, one of the stars of New Zealand’s run to the World Cup final but playing his first Test in two years, trudged off having put himself in position to press on for a coveted hundred at Lord’s. He faced 115 balls including eight fours and a swept six off Ali.

With two new batsmen at the crease, Williamson called for a reckless single that would have had Taylor run out had bowler Stuart Broad’s underarm throw been on target at the striker’s end.

England also might have seen the back of both openers when they were each in the 20s.

Guptill was on 24 when he edged debutant fast bowler Mark Wood to England captain Alastair Cook at first slip, but what would have been the Durham paceman’s first Test wicket was overturned when a review to check for a no-ball showed he had overstepped the crease by a fraction.

After lunch, Latham was dropped on 21 by Ian Bell at second slip off Ben Stokes.

England were often ragged in the field in the second session with one Broad bouncer sailing over Buttler’s head for four byes.

Despite the overcast conditions, there was plenty of fine stroke play, with Latham pulling James Anderson, England’s leading Test wicket taker, for four to bring up the hundred partnership. Guptill followed up with a classic straight drive down the ground for four off Broad.

England started the second day on 354 for seven, having been 30 for four on Thursday before a fifth-wicket stand of 161 between Joe Root (98) and all-rounder Stokes (92) revived the innings.

But they lost their final three wickets for just 37 runs in 10.5 overs on the second day of this two-Test series.

Left-arm paceman Trent Boult (4-79) and debutant fast bowler Matt Henry (4-93) led the way.