Cricket: Black Caps on the back foot against England at Lord’s

England celebrate a wicket during the first test at Lord’s. Photo: AFP

New Zealand end second day at 36-3, need 218 more to win
Smith’s six-wicket haul restricts England second innings to 226
New Zealand’s first innings collapses for 113 as Robinson takes five wickets

England took control of the first test against New Zealand on the second day at Lord’s on Friday (UK time), during a match moving with breakneck speed in the 150th test staged at the home of world cricket.

At the close New Zealand, chasing 254 to win, were 36 for three on a pitch still offering plenty to the pace bowlers and with their premier leading batsman Kane Williamson (18) back in the pavilion.

At the start of play, England opening bowler Ollie Robinson, back in the national side after a two-year exile in county cricket over concerns about his conditioning and fitness, celebrated his recall by completing a fourth five-wicket test haul in New Zealand’s paltry 113 reply to England’s 140.

Robinson, 32, set the match alight on Thursday’s opening day by capturing three wickets from four balls in the first over of the New Zealand innings to spark an England resurgence after the home team had tumbled on a pitch of variable bounce and pace during a day interrupted by two rain storms.

Ollie Robinson of England celebrates bowling out Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand. Lord’s. 2026. — Ollie Robinson of England celebrates bowling out New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell. Photo: www.photosport.nz

On Friday, with the sun now shining, New Zealand, who had collapsed to 61 for six at the close on the previous day, recovered some lost ground thanks largely to Kyle Jamieson, who had taken five for 62 in England’s first innings.

Jamieson lofted three sixes into the stands in an unbeaten 38, after paceman Josh Tongue had hit the off-stumps of Glenn Phillips (34) and Nathan Smith (15).

Opener Ben Duckett was granted a life when Rachin Ravindra spilled his second catch of the match after England batted again. Will O’Rourke troubled both him and his opening partner, Emilio Gay making his test debut, with some high-pace deliveries before Duckett succumbed for 33, slashing O’Rourke to gully.

Jacob Bethell survived a dropped catch to Devon Conway at gully in a sloppy New Zealand fielding display, but was then bowled for 14 by Matt Henry, who missed most of Thursday’s play with back spasms.

Gay played fluently off the back foot to reach his half-century and looked increasingly at home in the test arena.

But after he was caught behind for 57, England suffered a mini-collapse when Harry Brook was LBW to O’Rourke for a duck and Joe Root fell LBW for eight to the pace of Smith, who then bowled captain Ben Stokes for another duck.

Follow how the action unfolded below:

- Reuters