England’s Test rebirth began with a 115-run win over New Zealand at Lord’s after the bowlers took five wickets on the fourth morning.
Gus Atkinson continued his love affair with Lord’s, taking yet another five-wicket haul, after Josh Tongue made an initial breakthrough in the first full over of the day and England captain Ben Stokes followed up by ending Devon Conway’s near three hours of resistance.
England coach Brendon McCullum had promised a more refined style in response to last winter’s woeful Ashes tour, and debutant Emilio Gay was rewarded for his application with a maiden 50 in a bowler-dominated match.
But it was an attack ably led by Atkinson and the returning Ollie Robinson that opened up a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
New Zealand were presented with marginally better batting conditions on the fourth morning as they resumed on 55 for five – requiring 199 more runs for the unlikeliest of victories.
However, although the damp had disappeared from the air and there was no need for floodlights, the cloud cover still had England’s seamers licking their lips.
Gus Atkinson took a five wicket haul as England wrapped up victory against New Zealand
Tongue got things off to a perfect start when he pinned Tom Blundell in front with one that ran back down the Lord’s slope.
It left the Black Caps 58 for six, triggering a counter-attacking response led by Glenn Phillips.
Stokes brought himself on from the Nursery End and was soon celebrating as a delivery turned round left-hander Conway and was pocketed by Jacob Bethell, diving forward from gully.
Once that 53-run partnership, New Zealand’s biggest of the match, was broken, the rest was a relative formality.
Nathan Smith nicked his third ball and although Kyle Jamieson timed one on the up for four through point, middling another off Atkinson was fatal as the ball sailed into the hands of short midwicket.
Atkinson then completed figures of five for 30, taking his overall tally to an outstanding 26 in three Tests here, by castling last man Matt Henry’s stumps.
