England stay in the fight in Christchurch

SANKA VIDANAGAMA/ AFP

Spinner Shoaib Bashir took four for 69 as England recovered from a poor start to reduce New Zealand to 319 for eight at the close of play on the opening day of an evenly poised first test on Thursday.

Seamers Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse also grabbed a couple of wickets apiece as the tourists dragged New Zealand back every time they looked like pulling away at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.

Kane Williamson was dismissed seven runs short of a hundred, Black Caps skipper Tom Latham three shy of a quickfire half-century, and four wickets were taken at the cost of 59 runs immediately after tea.

Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry put together a stand of 46 for the eighth wicket to steady the innings but the latter holed out for 18 to give Bashir his fourth wicket.

Phillips will resume on 41 not out alongside Tim Southee, who had made 10, with the late runs having probably nudged New Zealand back ahead in an intriguing contest.

England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl on a wicket with a green tinge but New Zealand denied him the early inroads into their batting order he would have liked.

He did get an almost immediate return when Atkinson dismissed Devon Conway for two in the second over, while Carse also struck before lunch to halt Latham with an edge at 47.

Williamson and Rachin Ravindra put on 68 for the third wicket, however, before Stokes brought on youngster Bashir, who separated them with a full toss.

Ravindra took on the delivery but only managed to punch it straight to Zak Crawley at midwicket, the all-rounder shaking his head as he trudged off the field with 34 runs to his name.

Williamson hit successive boundaries off Bashir to bring up a half-century off 90 balls and set about building towards his 33rd test century.

New Zealand headed to tea at 193-3 but England changed things up with a short-ball barrage after the second break and it had an almost immediate impact.

Some injudicious shot-making from the home batters helped as Daryl Mitchell (19) holed out in the deep off Carse, while Tom Blundell (17) and new cap Nathan Smith (3) both fell to catches off the bowling of Bashir.

The key wicket was that of Williamson, of course, and he fell in the 90s for the first time since 2018 trying to get over an Atkinson delivery but only managing to flash it to Crawley at point.

More from Sports

Coming Up on Dubai Eye

  • The Business Breakfast

    6:00am - 10:00am

    The Business Breakfast is the day’s must listen for the UAE’s business leaders, and those who aspire to be.

  • The Agenda

    10:00am - 1:00pm

    Broadcasting every weekday, Georgia Tolley goes beyond the headlines to speak to government ministers, decision makers, analysts and local experts to find out how the news will impact those of us living in the UAE.

BUSINESS BREAKFAST LATEST

On Dubai Eye

  • Is There Sufficient House Supply In UAE

    Dubai’s current population is more than double compared to almost twenty years ago, which now stands at 3.7 million. Lots of families are also moving to the UAE now. So what does it mean for the property market?

  • Noon's First Female Delivery Driver

    Glory Ehirim Nkiruka is Noon’s first ever female delivery driver. In her first ever interview, she explained why she loves her job, despite the heat!