England thrash New Zealand by 124 runs at Lord’s

England took a thrilling first test at Lord’s when they bowled out New Zealand for 220 to win by 124 runs with 15 overs to spare in the final session today.

Proceedings ended late on day five, but not in a draw as expected, as England pulled off an excellent 124-run win largely due to all-rounder Ben Stokes. The Durham man had scored a rapid century on day four, which gave England the time and runs on the board on day five, and he then contributed with three wickets on the last day, including two in one over, one of whom was Brendon McCullum.

Six bowlers shared the wickets, as the team produced a victory following a tumultuous buildup including the sacking of their coach, in an engrossing match that was a gift to test cricket.

Fortunes fluctuated daily, and swung England’s way for good with terrific swing bowling at the start of New Zealand’s second innings. The Kiwis lost their openers within the first seven balls, and Ross Taylor for eight within half an hour, as they were in survival mode very early in the game.

The match ended when, left only with an outside chance of a draw, New Zealand last man Trent Boult was caught off an uppercut by Moeen Ali, running back at third man, off Stuart Broad as the tourists were dismissed for 220 with 9.3 overs left in the day’s play. Victory gave England a 1-0 lead in the two-match series heading into the second Test at Headingley on Friday.

England: 389 (J Root 98, B Stokes 92, J Buttler 67, M Ali 58; T Boult 4-79, M Henry 4-93) and 478 (A Cook 162, B Stokes 101, J Root 84; T Boult 5-85)
New Zealand: 523 (K Williamson 132, M Guptill 70, R Taylor 62, BJ Watling 61 no, T Latham 59; S Broad 3-77, M Wood 3-93, M Ali 3-94) and 220 (C Anderson 67, BJ Watling 59; B Stokes 3-38, S Broad 3-50)