England versus NZ 2nd Test 1st Day: Honours even on day 1

 

It was an excellent day of Test cricket as both teams fought on the 1^st Day of the 2^nd match played at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Thursday.

England captain Joe Root won the toss and decided to bat first on a good batting pitch. New Zealand went into the match with six changes in the squad including captain Kane Williamson, Southee, Watling, Jamieson, Santer and Colin de Grandhomme. Trent Boult and Matt Henry bowled tight lines and lengths troubling the England openers.

After the initial burst, Neil Wagner was bought into the attack and continued their tight lines. England openers made just 27 runs in the first hour. Burns and Sibley put bad balls away for runs. The stand-in captain Tom Latham bought changes into the attack but could not dislodge the opening pair. England went into the lunch break at 67 for 0.

It was a dream start for the Kiwis in the 2^nd session as Matt Henry dismissed Dom Sibley in the very first over after lunch with a peach of a delivery. The England openers put on 72 runs. Zak Crawley horrible run continued as Neil Wagner produced outside edge with Daryl Mitchell taking a good catch at third slips to put England on the backfoot.

Matt Henry produced another superb delivery to get rid of Joe Root cheaply to leave England in trouble at 85 for 3. Latham bought changes into the attack troubling the host's batsmen. On the other hand, Rory Burns remained solid and reached fifty off 141 balls. The left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel struck in his first over of the second spell getting the wicket of Ollie Pope. Pope and Burns added 42 runs for the 4^th wicket. Rory Burns and Dan Lawrence looked in good touch putting pressure on the Kiwis bowlers. England went into the tea break at 152 for 4.

Dan Lawrence and Burns looked positive right from the word go before Boult struck twice getting rid of Burns and Bracey. Stand-in captain Latham took a good catch to get rid of Burns while Bracey was dismissed for a second successive duck. Burns and Lawrence added 42 runs for the 6^th wicket. Olly Stone looked in decent touch along keeping the scoreboard ticking making life tough. Ajaz Patel broke the partnership for New Zealand getting rid of Stone. Stone and Lawrence added 47 runs for the 7^th wicket. Lawrence looked impressive with his strokes putting pressure on Kiwis bowlers.

Latham decided to take the 2^nd new ball immediately, but Lawrence showed great courage hitting boundaries and completed his fifty off 75 balls. Trent Boult and Matt Henry produced a display of swing bowling but were not enough to pick wickets. Lawrence was given out by the umpire, but the decision changed it hit the pad and going over the stumps. On the other hand, Mark Wood was simply sensational remaining not out on 16 off 58 balls. Lawrence and Wood added so far 36 runs for the 8^th wicket.

Thanks to a superb knock by Lawrence and Burns, England recovered from a tough situation to 258 for 7. From New Zealand point of view, Patel, Boult, and Henry took 2 wickets each.

England 258 for 7 in 90 overs ( Burns 81, Lawrence 67*,  Boult 2/60, Patel 2/34)  

Burns and Lawerence helps England day 1 at 258 for 7 against Kiwis