England versus New Zealand 1st Test 5th Day: Dom Sibley half-century ensures England to a draw

 

The first Test match between England and New Zealand ended in a draw as Dom Sibley, Joe Root and Ollie Pope batted out the overs on the fifth and final day played at Lords, London on Sunday.

Starting on the overnight score of 62 for 2, nightwatchman Neil Wagner provided some attacking strokes against Stuart Broad. Ollie Robinson got rid of Wagner with a short ball as James Bracey took a simple catch. Ross Taylor struggled initially against Robinson before playing some attacking strokes and putting the England bowlers under pressure. Tom Latham was dismissed by Stuart Broad with a beautiful delivery. Latham could add only 5 runs to his overnight score. Latham and Taylor added 31 runs for the 4^th wicket.

Ross Taylor was in a hitting mood keeping the scoreboard ticking and made life tough for the hosts. Mark Wood eventually dismissed Taylor with a good catch by James Bracey. Henry Nicholls also played a quickfire knock before being caught by Rory Burns at slips. With the scoreboard reading 169 for 6, rain arrived, and umpires called early lunch.

The New Zealand captain Williamson declared their innings setting England 273 in 75 overs. It was exceptional bowling by Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson to Burns and Sibley. Jamieson did not allow the openers to score runs easily giving his first run off the 35^th ball. After the initial burst, Colin de Grandhomme and Neil Wagner was bought into the attack.

Neil Wagner troubled Rory Burns and eventually got him with a peach ending 49 runs opening partnership. The Kiwis bowlers kept on bowling nagging lines and lengths to Crawley and Sibley. Crawley registered his first run off the 16^th delivery. Tim Southee dismissed Crawley again like in the first innings and put England under some pressure. At the end of the second session, England made 57 for 2.

After the tea session, the Kiwis pacers bowled with pace and accuracy troubling Root and Sibley but did not yield in any wickets. Sibley looked rock solid with their solid defense keeping the Kiwis bowlers at bay along with captain Joe Root. Neil Wagner dismissed England captain Joe Root with a good delivery to end an 80 runs partnership for the 3^rd wicket. Kane Williamson decided to bowl in the last over giving Kiwi’s practice ahead.

Sibley remained solid and reached fifty off 161 balls. Ollie Pope also showed rock-solid defense making sure that England did not lose any more wickets. Both captains decided to shake hands and the match resulted in a draw. Pope and Sibley put on unbeaten 34 runs for the 4^th wicket.

New Zealand 378 in 122.4 overs (Conway 200, Nicholls 61, Robinson 4/75, Anderson 3/81) and 169 for 6 in 52.3 overs (Taylor 33, Latham 36, Conway 23, Robinson) 3/26) England 275 in 101.1 overs (Rory Burns 132, Root 42, Robinson 42, Southee 6/43, Jamieson 3/85) and 170 for 3 in 70 overs (Sibley 60*, Root 40, Wagner 2/27) draw 3/26)                                                                                               

For his unbeaten 200 in his debut Test match, Devon Conway was awarded the man of the match. The second Test would be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from 10^th June.

The first Test match between England and NZ ends in a draw