England vs New Zealand (ENG vs NZ) 1st Test Live Cricket Score Updates: New Zealand went for the kill on the final day of the first Test against England at Lord’s. Resuming at 62/2 with a lead of 165 runs, the Kiwis played attacking cricket to build their lead to 272 before the Lunch session. England will chase 273 to win in the last two sessions of the Test in this match where all three results seem possible.
Inspired by a fifth day attack and paceman Tim Southee, New Zealand remain in control despite Rory Burns compiling his third century for England. The Kiwis will struggle to work their way into a winning position, however, with only one day’s play remaining. Tom Latham (30) and night watchman Neil Wagner (2) began at the crease for New Zealand on the final day. Ross Taylor (33 off 35 balls) took the cudgel up and shifted the momentum of the innings.
Back for the final session of the Test, Southee and Wagner restart the proceedings. Root and Sibley stick to the gameplan of fetching a draw in Lord’s and take it quite nice and easy against the pacers, surviving two LBW shouts. ENG: 60/2 (35 overs)
End of the afternoon session. England have scored 56/2 in the 32 overs they have faced after Lunch. They tried to hang on in this session, losing Burns and Crawley. Will they go for the win in the final session? Will Williamson’s decision to declare make the next session a deathmatch?
Action resumes, for one final time in this Test, after a 20-minute break.
Crawley’s resistance ends. He has 2 runs to show from his 25-ball stay. Crawley is caught fishing outside his off stump and there is a simple catch at gully. Southee keeps the ball keeps swerving around on the final day. Joe Root walks out. The skipper will have to stay on till the end today.
ENG 56/2, need 217 more to win
Crawley comes in at 3 and plays along with England’s game plan of blocking everything out before Tea. Sibley gets a four with a top edge that flies past Southee at second slip. England cross 54. Still a long way to go to get the win though.
ENG 54/1, need 219 more to win
Wagner, striking all the right chords, gets the breakthrough! After so many near misses, it is Southee at second slip and Wagner who combine to get rid of Burns. The first wicket falls. Burns goes for 25 off 81.
ENG 49/1
New Zealand throw in Santner and Wagner, thus indicating their attacking salvo is at an end. Despite having done little other than hand around, Burns and Sibley have ensured no wickets have fallen in the first one and half hours, thus effectively blanking out New Zealand from the game. What this has done, if England can hold on for another half hour, is that this has given England a fighting chance to go for the win in the final session.
ENG 49/0, need 224 more to win
Jamieson has bowled 5 maidens in his first 5 overs. Undroppable at the moment. Burns steals another boundary with a flick off the pads against Southee. Sibley still the batsman under more pressure even as the wicket eludes New Zealand. Drinks taken at the end of the halfway point in the session, with England yet to find any sort of rythm to their chase.
ENG 33/0 after 17, need 240 more to win
Sibley finally gets off the mark with a flick off his pads that goes to the fence. It’s England on the back foot now, sustaining the punches of the new ball. Can they soak up the pressure now and then inflict it all on the Kiwis when the ball becomes older?
ENG 14/0 after 10
Burns continues confidently, driving a four back behind Southee. Sibley, on the other hand, looking like a spider caught on a bathroom wall. All eight legs at the moment and under severe examination from Southee and Jamieson, who strikes the right-hander on his elbow. Meanwhile, Williamson’s brave declaration call has impressed all.
Burns gets England’s first runs with an edge that flies past the slip cordon for four. Southee and Jamieson have started proceedings for New Zealand, under skies that look like they could open any time. All five results possible, to be honest – an England win, a New Zealand win, a draw under normal circumstances, a draw forced by weather and a tie, however traumatic that may be for the Kiwis. No runs apart from that edged boundary in the first 3 overs though.
ENG 4/0, need 269 more to win
New Zealand have declared at lunch! England need 273 runs to win, New Zealand need 10 wickets. Burns and Sibley begin batting for England. Here we go!
Wicket! This time for Joe Root. Nicholls tries an expansive shot but can only manage to give a catch to Burns at slip. De Grandhomme comes in at 8 and smashes a four off Anderson. And with the drizzle continuing, an early Lunch session has been called.
NZ 169/6, lead by 272
Nicholls and Watling build a 6th wicket partnership with a few more edges flying off to the fence. England looking to contain the runs at this stage, looking at their field placement. Aaaand just to spice things up a bit more… a slight drizzle has started at Lord’s.
NZ 159/5, lead by 262
One more six – this time a heavy top edge from Ross Taylor. James Anderson, into the attack for the first time today, raps Taylor on the pad but the LBW decision is not given. Replays show Taylor would have been out, but England have burned all their Reviews up already! Life for Taylor. But he’s gone in the next over. A wild slash and an edge that travels to the keeper. Taylor is out for 33 off 35 balls.
NZ 133/5, lead by 236
That was Stuart Broad’s first Test wicket in 81.2 overs. Henry Nicholls has joined Taylor meanwhile, while Mark Wood has been introduced by England. Nicholls now dances down the track and throws his bat at it. New Zealand’s intentions are clear – they are going for the win.
NZ 118/4, lead by 221
Ross Taylor is going for the win! A big six against Robinson. Smashed high and over mid-wicket for a maximum. But then Latham is given LBW against Broad. Lots happening in this opening hour of the final day. Latham gone for 36.
NZ 105/4, lead by 208
Taylor finds the fence with a perfectly timed cover drive off Robinson. That should get him going! Another hard cut from Taylor gets him three. New Zealand’s lead moves into the 200s. In terms of a result, this next hour and a half could decide if New Zealand can try to force a win. Can they add another 100-120 runs from here?
NZ 97/3, lead by 200
Wicket! Wagner is caught behind off Robinson. He was going for his shots and doesn’t last long today. Goes for 10. Latham is joined by Ross Taylor. Latham is dropped! Crawley drops the catch. New Zealand looking shaky in the first few minutes of the day.
NZ 82/3, lead by 185
Some clouds in the sky as Latham and nightwatchman Wagner resume the New Zealand innings. England throw in Robinson and Broad. It is Wagner who gets the scoring underway with a streaky four against Broad.
Welcome to the final day of the 1st Test of the series. This match is most likely to veer to a draw. New Zealand have a lead of 165 and 8 wickets in hand. They could be looking to add a quick 100-120 runs in the first session before trying to force a result in the last two sessions. But chances are, they won’t. It’s advantage Kiwis in this 1st Test, but given the battles to come — the Edgbaston Test and the all-important WTC Final — New Zealand will probably not mind letting this one go.
Play begins at 3:30 pm IST.
Playing XIs:
England: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root(c), Daniel Lawrence, Ollie Pope, James Bracey(w), Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson
New Zealand:Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner
