England ended a wicket-laden second day on 36-3 with the Black Caps 254 to win the first Test at Lord’s. cricket news

Fast-forward to another day of England and New Zealand Test cricket, with Emilio Gay’s debut fifty, the home side losing four wickets for one run in 11 balls and the visitors finishing 36–3 after setting out 254 to win at Lord’s.

New Zealand went 0-1 down in the first over of their second innings when skipper Tom Latham slipped Gus Atkinson and then lost Kane Williamson – who was likely to play his last innings in the Lord’s Test – before casting nightwatchman Will Atkin lbw to Josh Tongue for 18 near the stumps.

Devon Conway, who survived a tough lbw review after being pinned on the pads by Ollie Robinson, remains unbeaten on 12, with his side needing 218 more to win.

A 17-wicket second day follows a 16-wicket opening day and it can now only be the weather – the forecast for Saturday looks rather grim – that prevents a three-day finish to kick off the men’s Test summer.

England looked in full control of the game after dismissing New Zealand for 113 before lunch on Friday – a 27-run lead at the time – and then, helped by Gay’s half-century and the Kiwis’ mistakes in the field, reached 126-2.

However, gay nicking started a remarkable mid-innings collapse behind Nathan Smith (6-70), with Smith trapping Joe Root (8) lbw and Ben Stokes off stump (0) to O’Rourke (2-46) to trap Harry Brook – England’s first in the counter. 56 – Leg Before.

England suddenly stumbled to 127-6 – a dismal situation due to the class of the bowlers as opposed to horrendous batting errors, it must be said – but runs from Jamie Smith (39), Gus Atkinson (14) and Robinson (29) put the hosts on 99 for the final four-wicket moment.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand added 55 runs to their overnight score of 61-6 – 38 of which came from the bat of Kyle Jamieson, who swung Robinson (5-39) for a six when the seamer dropped short and then another tong (3-40) slower.

Robinson swept the Kiwis’ innings clean off last man Matt Henry for two balls, completing his fourth Test five-run haul since the 2022 Test against South Africa across London at The Kia Oval.

The Oval is the venue for the second Test of the three-match series, starting on Wednesday June 17, and as things stand, England are 1-0 favorites to advance in that contest.

New Zealand bowl debutant fifty for fielding error

In a Test full of chaos, England had a relative lull as Gay and Ben Duckett (33) shared an opening stand of 52 off 76 balls.

The pair handled it the way teammate Brooke suggested when speaking before the game Sky Sports – Treating the straight ball with respect in a game full of bowls and lbws followed by aggressive deliveries that were tossed wide.

Both players enjoyed moments of luck, Duckett shelling Rochin Ravindra for 12 at midwicket – the second drop by that particular fielder in Tests with a first-ball wicket in bat.

Gay was edged between Daryl Mitchell and Latham at slip cordon on 16, when he was lbw to Henry for 24 when New Zealand reviewed the over after lunch.

Duckett was caught playing a flat-footed drive by O’Rock and the same bowler should have bagged Jacob Bethel (12) at backward point for eight, only for Conway to shell out the chance as the visitors’ tally increased to five in the match.

Instead it was left to Henry, not at his best due to a back spasm, to clear Bethel with a delivery that went so short, ending Gay’s partnership of 47.

The carnage came after Gaye departed, reaching his fifty off 84 balls, in an over from Nathan Smith in which he hit three boundaries.

It was a test for the bowlers on Friday morning, with Glenn Phillips (34) and Nathan Smith (6) being tongue-tied off stumps late in New Zealand’s first innings.

England will now hope it stays that way. New Zealand wants the opposite. We could get a gripping finish.

Watch the third day of the first Test between England and New Zealand live Sky Sports Cricket And main event Saturday from 10.15am. Didn’t get the sky? Get Sky Sports or Stream with NOW.