England v New Zealand: Hosts’ post-Ashes rebuild begins with win at Lord’s

England took less than an innings on the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand in a victory they needed to rebuild from the Ashes.

England took advantage of the difficult batting conditions on a poor Lord’s pitch to take a 1-0 lead in their first Test since their 4-1 loss to Australia, beating the tourists by 115 runs.

Chasing 254 for the night from 55-5, New Zealand’s disappointing week ended when they were bundled out for 138, thanks mainly to Gus Atkinson’s 5-30.

After Saturday’s third day was completely lost to rain, England needed just seven deliveries on a busy Sunday to resume their wicket-taking – Josh Tongue into Tom Blundell’s exposed pad.

With the ball moving up and down, and side to side, Glenn Phillips started a New Zealand counter-attack that was timed out.

Phillips and Devon Conway added 53 for the seventh wicket, assisted by Harry Brooke Conway at second slip.

But the end came quickly after England captain Ben Stokes took a misstep from Conway.

Nathan Smith was left behind, Kyle Jamison cut to mid-wicket and last man Matt Henry was all out by Atkinson to give the Surrey man another spot on the Lord’s honors board.

The fast-paced, seam-dominated nature of this match followed the trend of recent matches involving England. The two Ashes Tests were played in two days, the first Test in this country since 1988 in which neither team bowled a single spin.

The hope for the second Test at The Oval from June 17 will be a more satisfying contest.