• Kane Williamson’s determined 93-run knock guided New Zealand to a strong position on Day 1 of the Christchurch Test against England.

  • Shoaib Bashir's late strikes proved decisive as New Zealand’s innings faltered towards the end.

Twitter reactions: Kane Williamson’s gritty 93 powers New Zealand before Shoaib Bashir’s late strikes aid England on Day 1 of the Christchurch Test
Kane Williamson and Shoaib Bashir (Image Source: X)

Table of Contents

Kane Williamson’s determined 93-run innings guided New Zealand to a strong position on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Christchurch. The home side, batting first, managed to post 319/8 by stumps, bolstered by significant contributions from Tom Latham (47) and Glenn Phillips (41 not out). England, after opting to bowl, saw some resistance from their bowlers, particularly Shoaib Bashir, who claimed crucial wickets late in the day. His late strikes, combined with disciplined bowling from Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson, brought England back into the contest.

Early struggles and Kane Williamson’s fight

New Zealand faced a challenging start in their first innings, with opener Devon Conway dismissed for just 2 runs. The early pressure was compounded when Latham, the captain, was caught by Ollie Pope off Carse’s bowling for 47, leaving the hosts at 82/2. Despite the early setbacks, Williamson showcased his trademark composure, building a partnership with Rachin Ravindra that steadied the innings. Williamson’s resilience was evident as he navigated through the difficult phases with a series of deft strokes and solid defense. His innings, which included 10 fours, saw him reach 93 off 197 balls before he was caught by Crawley off Atkinson’s bowling, leaving New Zealand at 199/4.

Middle order woes and late resistance

The middle-order batter failed to maintain the momentum, with Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell both succumbing to tight England bowling. Blundell was dismissed for 11, caught by Atkinson, as New Zealand slipped to 227/5. Nathan Smith also fell soon after, caught behind for just 6 runs, adding more pressure on the lower order. However, Phillips came to the rescue, displaying aggressive intent to counter the England bowlers. Phillips’ innings of 41 off 58 balls included a series of powerful shots that kept the scoreboard ticking. Matt Henry, with a quick-fire 18 off 32 balls, provided some late resistance to push New Zealand past 300, ending the day at 319/8.

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England’s bowling strategy and breakthroughs

England’s bowlers, led by Chris Woakes, were tasked with breaking through New Zealand’s defences and did so with a mix of patience and skill. Woakes bowled 16 overs, conceding 54 runs but failing to claim a wicket. Atkinson, who was lively throughout, took 2 for 61 in his 18 overs, proving to be a key player in the middle session. Carse’s efforts were also crucial, with figures of 2 for 57 from 15 overs, including the pivotal wicket of Latham. Captain Ben Stokes rotated his bowlers effectively, using a mix of pace and spin, while Bashir impressed with the ball, taking 4 for 69 in 20 overs. His breakthroughs were critical, ensuring England stayed in the contest.

New Zealand’s late losses and momentum shift by Shoaib Bashir

New Zealand’s innings faltered towards the end, with a flurry of wickets that saw the tail exposed. Bashir’s late strikes proved decisive, as he dismissed both Smith and Henry within a span of five overs. The final session saw Tim Southee holding fort as an unbeaten batter, adding 10 runs to the tally alongside Phillips. Henry’s attacking innings came to an end when he was dismissed by Bashir, who took his fourth wicket with an impressive delivery that shaped in sharply. The late flurry of wickets tilted the momentum towards England, who will look to bowl out the remaining New Zealand batters swiftly on Day 2 and seize control of the match.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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