England Collapse Leaves First Test Finely Poised As New Zealand Fight Back At Lord’s

• England lost four wickets for just one run in a dramatic collapse on day two
• Emilio Gay scored a debut fifty before New Zealand struck back strongly
• Ollie Robinson claimed a five-wicket haul as New Zealand were bowled out for 113

England suffered a remarkable batting collapse on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, losing four wickets for just one run and allowing the visitors back into the contest after appearing to take control of the match.

The hosts were comfortably placed at 126-2 in their second innings before New Zealand’s bowlers triggered a stunning collapse that reduced England to 127-6. By tea, England had recovered slightly to reach 166-6, holding a lead of 193 runs on a pitch that continued to offer plenty of assistance to the bowlers.

Jamie Smith provided much-needed resistance with an unbeaten 31, while New Zealand seamer Nathan Smith led the fightback with impressive figures of 3-49.

England resumed their innings positively after building on a first-innings lead. Emilio Gay, making his Test debut, produced a composed innings and reached his maiden Test fifty from 84 balls, striking seven boundaries.

The left-hander had earlier benefited from New Zealand’s failure to review an lbw appeal when he was on 24. Television replays later showed he would have been out had the visitors challenged the decision.

Gay continued to make the most of his reprieve before eventually falling for 57, caught behind off Nathan Smith with England on 126-3.

That dismissal sparked a dramatic collapse. Harry Brook, who had scored a half-century in the first innings, was trapped lbw by Will O’Rourke without scoring. Joe Root followed soon after for eight, also dismissed leg-before by Nathan Smith.

England captain Ben Stokes then fell for a duck when Nathan Smith produced a superb delivery that angled into the left-hander before clipping the top of off stump.

Earlier in the day, England’s bowlers wrapped up New Zealand’s first innings for just 113 after the visitors resumed overnight on 61-6.

Ollie Robinson starred on his return to the Test side, claiming his fourth five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Playing his first Test match in more than two years, the Sussex fast bowler finished with outstanding figures of 5-39 from 10.1 overs.

Robinson had already put England in command on the opening day with a devastating spell that included a triple-wicket maiden and figures of 4-10 in six overs as New Zealand collapsed late on Thursday.

He completed his five-wicket haul on Friday by bowling Matt Henry for a duck, leaving New Zealand trailing England’s first-innings total of 140 by 27 runs.

New Zealand’s innings lasted fewer than 30 overs, with all-rounder Glenn Phillips unable to provide significant resistance. Phillips, unbeaten on 31 overnight, added only three more runs before Josh Tongue knocked over his off stump.

Tongue finished with figures of 3-40, while Kyle Jamieson, who had taken five wickets in England’s first innings, top-scored for New Zealand with an unbeaten 38.