England’s captain and his likely successor both held firm after the early loss of Ian Bell as the hosts edged into the lead in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s in London yesterday.
At lunch on the fourth day, England in their second innings were 175-3 — 41 runs in front.
England skipper Alastair Cook was 69 not out and vice captain Joe Root unbeaten on 58, with their unbroken stand for the fourth wicket worth 101 runs.
Photo: AFP
However, given they were effectively 41-3, England’s difficulties were far from finished in a match where they have largely been outplayed in all aspects.
New Zealand had a first-innings lead of 134, with Kane Williamson making an impressive 132.
England resumed on 74-2, 60 runs adrift, with Cook (32 not out) and Bell (29 not out).
They had not added to their score when, off just the third ball of yesterday’s play, Bell, trying to drive a Tim Southee outswinger, edged high through to Tom Latham, deputizing for injured wicketkeeper B.J. Watling.
England, in their first match since former captain Andrew Strauss was appointed director of cricket and with Jason Gillespie reportedly waiting in the wings to replace the sacked Peter Moores as coach, badly needed a decent stand between Cook and Root.
In the face of testing pace bowling, Cook responded with a 122-ball half-century that took the left-handed opener three hours. Cook’s cut boundary against off-spinner Mark Craig then saw England take the lead.
Root swept Craig for four to post an 83-ball half-century which included seven fours.
In the last over before lunch, Root, on 57, survived a leg-before-wicket review after missing an inswinger from left-armer Trent Boult.
On Saturday, Williamson said it felt particularly special to join a select group of New Zealand batsmen who have made a Test century at Lord’s.
Williamson’s innings was just the 14th Test century by a New Zealand batsman at the home of cricket. He was 92 not out overnight. but he got the eight runs he needed two overs into Saturday’s play.
“Overnight, knowing you are really close to three figures and [the] much spoken-about honors board, it plays a little part on your mind, but to be honest I was just trying to get on with the job at hand,” Williamson said.
Williamson said playing at Lord’s was like nowhere else.
“There’s a quiet buzz that sounds like everyone is talking to their mate next to them while the cricket goes on in the background, then all of a sudden there is a shot or a wicket, and then you realize everyone is watching closely. It’s unique playing here,” he said.
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