New Zealand v England analysis: Late flurry of wickets leaves Test evenly poised
Shoaib Bashir claimed 4-69 as England persevered to peg New Zealand back in the final session on a fascinating first day of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy in Christchurch.
After electing to field first on a green pitch, England found themselves up against it as Kane Williamson’s 93 on his return to the Test side anchored the hosts to 193-3 at tea.
But five wickets in the final session helped the tourists regain a sense of control with the Black Caps 319-8 at close, writes Sports News Blitz’s Dom Harris.
Williamson shared three half-century partnerships with captain Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell to nullify the new ball, but were guilty of some loose strokeplay which opened the door for an England fightback led by 21-year-old spinner Bashir.
At a picturesque Hagley Oval, Gus Atkinson struck in his first over to give Ben Stokes’ men the perfect start - reacting smartly to take a low catch off his own bowling after a miscued drive by Devon Conway.
Latham looked fluent for his 47 before Brydon Carse forced an outside edge playing across the line, as the Kiwis rattled along nicely in excess of four an over with the English bowlers a fraction too short and failing to ask enough questions of the New Zealand batters during the morning session.
A huge opportunity to take a third wicket did go begging just before the lunch interval, with nobody appealing a Stokes delivery that flashed past the blade of Ravindra into the gloves of wicketkeeper Ollie Pope - ultra-edge showing there was in fact a spike.
Fortunately for England, Ravindra failed to take advantage as he slapped an innocuous looping full toss by Bashir to Zak Crawley at mid wicket for 34.
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Despite missing the historic 3-0 series win in India with a groin injury, Williamson - who replaced the player-of-the-series Will Young - never looked like he had been away as he began to take charge in a typically calm and composed manner, latching onto anything dropped short by the England quicks to register the first half century of the series.
Stokes struggled for rhythm with ball in hand and Bashir initially found consistency hard to come by with New Zealand moving into a commanding position at tea.
England adapted well to the slow nature of the pitch, with Stokes initiating a short-ball ploy which proved more effective as the day went on.
Mitchell fell into the trap as he top edged an attempted pull shot to Harry Brook at third man off the bowling of Carse for 19, before a bit of extra bounce by Atkinson meant Williamson could only steer a cut shot to Crawley at backward point seven runs short of his century.
Bashir then claimed two wickets in quick succession, Tom Blundell (17) pushing a wide delivery to Atkinson in the backward point region and Nathan Smith (3) on debut turning the ball into the hands of Joe Root at leg slip to leave New Zealand 252-7.
The dangerous Glenn Phillips - who was dropped by captain Stokes on 0 and successfully overturned a caught behind down the leg side on 9 - alongside Matt Henry (18) counter-attacked until Henry’s lofted drive to Ben Duckett at long on ended a 46-run partnership for the eighth wicket and handed Bashir a fourth scalp - the spinner who was only expecting to hold a peripheral role on this tour benefitting from slowing his pace down.
England conceded over 20 runs in extras and such was their slow over rate, Phillips (41 not out) and Tim Southee (10 not out) only had to withstand three overs of the second new ball as the hosts reached 319-8 at stumps on a fluctuating day’s play which ended evenly balanced.
On a pitch expected to improve for the batters, England can be satisfied with their day’s work - Atkinson and Carse once again looking threatening after stellar introductions to international cricket, Bashir in the wickets after a somewhat underwhelming tour of Pakistan and Pope not putting a foot wrong behind the stumps as stand-in wicketkeeper.
Phillips could still power the hosts to a commanding first-innings total, with the skipper’s drop when the big-hitting all-rounder had yet to score potentially proving costly.
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