England Beats New Zealand by 115 Runs as Atkinson and Robinson Drive Lord's Test Win
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 7
England Beats New Zealand by 115 Runs as Atkinson and Robinson Drive Lord's Test Win
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 7
Summary
Gus Atkinson's 5-30 and Ollie Robinson's seven wickets in the match powered England to a 115-run win over New Zealand in the first Test, sealing a 1-0 series lead at Lord's.
A rain-affected match on a heavily criticized pitch tilted toward seamers, making batting treacherous and helping England's attack dominate as New Zealand were dismissed for 138 chasing 254.
Atkinson underlined his exceptional Lord's record with a fourth five-wicket haul in three Tests there, while Robinson marked his return after more than two years out of the side with a triple-wicket maiden and a match-shaping comeback.
England's batters largely struggled despite Emilio Gay's debut 57 and Harry Brook's counter-attacking fifty, while New Zealand still found positives in Nathan Smith's nine wickets and Kyle Jamieson's first-innings five-for.
The victory gives Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum a timely lift after the Ashes setback, though questions over England's batting and the quality of the Lord's surface remain ahead of the next Test.