New Zealand vs England: Shoaib Bashir leads tourists' fightback in final session after Kane Williamson scores 93
Shoaib Bashir spearheaded the comeback as England claimed five New Zealand wickets during the last session, following Kane Williamson's impressive score of 93 on the first day of the inaugural Test at a bustling Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Williamson, who was unable to participate in New Zealand's recent 3-0 win in India due to a groin injury, stepped in for Will Young, who played in that series, during the match against England. He narrowly missed out on achieving his 33rd Test century, finishing just seven runs shy as the home team finished with a score of 319-8.
New Zealand was in a strong position at 227-4 in the evening, but the loss of Williamson—who was caught at backward point off Gus Atkinson (2-61)—triggered a shaky spell where they lost three wickets for just 25 runs. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir (4-69) managed to get Tom Blundell (17) caught on the off-side, while debutant Nathan Smith (3) was taken at leg slip.
Match Recap - New Zealand vs England, First Test
New Zealand finished their innings at 319 runs for 8 wickets after 83 overs. Kane Williamson led the scoring with 93 runs, followed by Tom Latham with 47 and Glenn Phillips who was not out on 41. Rachin Ravindra contributed 34 runs to the total. On the bowling side, Shoaib Bashir took 4 wickets for 69 runs, while Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson each claimed 2 wickets, finishing with figures of 57 and 61 runs conceded, respectively.
Bashir finally broke a challenging partnership of 45 runs between Glenn Phillips, who was not out at 41, and Matt Henry, who scored 18. Henry was caught at long-on, adding to Bashir's earlier wicket of Rachin Ravindra, who made 34 runs.
Phillips, who scored 41 runs without being out, was given a second chance early in his innings when England captain Ben Stokes missed a difficult catch at mid-off. Later, when Phillips had nine runs, he successfully challenged an out decision for caught behind against Stokes.
England didn't start off strong in the morning and afternoon after choosing to bowl on a pitch with a hint of green. They conceded 35 extras throughout the day. However, they showed significant improvement after tea as they aimed for their first Test series victory in New Zealand since 2008.
The champions of this series will receive the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, which honors former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe and ex-England batsman Graham Thorpe.
The trophy combines the bats that belonged to Crowe and Thorpe, both of whom have since passed away—Crowe in 2016 and Thorpe in 2024. Crowe used his bat to score a century at Lord's in 1994, while Thorpe achieved consecutive hundreds with his bat in New Zealand in 1997.
Highlights of the Day
Williamson Makes Stylish Test Cricket Comeback
New Zealand's current captain, Tom Latham, contributed 47 runs while partnering with Williamson to add 58 runs for the second wicket. This came after Atkinson had dismissed Devon Conway for just 2 runs, catching a return catch off his own bowling in the second over and leaving the home team at 4 for 1.
Latham narrowly caught the talented Brydon Carse (2-57) behind the stumps, with Ollie Pope filling in as the wicketkeeper. However, Williamson continued to build solid partnerships, first with Ravindra and then with Daryl Mitchell (19), contributing to partnerships of 68 and 69 runs each.
Ravindra could have been out for 21 just before the lunch break if England had opted for a review. It was later revealed that the batter had edged Stokes’ delivery to Pope.
That mistake ended up costing the visitors just 13 runs, as Ravindra hit a full toss from Bashir to Zak Crawley, who caught it at midwicket. Shortly after, Mitchell skied a shot off Carse, which was caught by Harry Brook at deep third, leaving the score at 199-3 early in the last session.
During Thursday's events in Christchurch, England newcomer Jacob Bethell made his debut by delivering a single over of left-arm spin. His first pitch was hit for four runs by Williamson, but he quickly adjusted and improved his performance after that.
Bethell will take the number 3 batting position for England, while Pope moves down to number 6. This change comes as Pope juggles his batting responsibilities with keeping wickets, after Jordan Cox sustained a fractured thumb that ended his tour.
England has summoned 25-year-old Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson, who has yet to make his international debut. He is set to arrive on Saturday and could be in line to play in the second Test in Wellington next week.
Robinson is expected to replace Bethell, but if the newcomer performs well in Christchurch and Pope keeps facing difficulties—having averaged just 11 in Pakistan last October with a highest score of 29—England may find themselves facing a tough choice.
Pope played cleverly against New Zealand, while the main issues on the first day were Chris Woakes's poor performance (0-54 in 16 overs) and Atkinson's seven no-balls. Meanwhile, New Zealand will regret several reckless shots that allowed the other team to claim wickets easily.
Bashir: Stokes Brings Out My Best In England
England's spinner Shoaib Bashir had an impressive performance, taking 4 wickets for 69 runs.
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I didn't anticipate bowling around 20 overs and taking four wickets on the first day, but I understood my responsibilities. Stokes and Baz (head coach Brendon McCullum) fully support me, and that really motivates me to perform at my best.
"When I bowl a poor delivery, Ben simply glances at me and smiles. That alone boosts my confidence, reminding me that I still have the ability to deliver my best. My main focus is on trying to get a wicket or set up a chance."
"I know I’m not flawless, and each day I believe I could improve my game. However, I do feel like I’ve honed my bowling skills to compete with some of the best in the world."
New Zealand’s Perspective: 'The Test Is Balanced'
Kane Williamson of New Zealand:
"It was tough, and we put in a lot of effort while forming some strong collaborations. The ball behaved unpredictably at times, but overall, it was a balanced matchup between batting and bowling. I was focused on adapting my approach, and I believe the team made a great effort."
It was a well-matched day of Test cricket. Both sides battled vigorously and earned their results. The situation is perfectly balanced.
I believe both teams will be satisfied with what they accomplished, and it all comes down to how the playing surface evolves over time, which will determine the significance of the first day for each side.
"The main challenge often comes from lateral movement and bounce, but Bashir delivered a solid performance. Being tall, he generates good bounce and occasionally some drop, which earned him results."
Pundits Say: 'England Will Be Quite Happy'
Michael Atherton from Sky Sports Cricket:
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England would have definitely preferred to be in this situation with a score of 199 for 3.
At Hagley Oval, it's typical for around nine wickets to fall on the opening day, so that part was predictable. However, what took us by surprise was the source of those wickets, particularly from Bashir. On a pitch with such a lush layer of grass, you would usually anticipate that the fast bowlers would be the ones making the biggest impact.
It was a warm and windy day—unusually warm for Christchurch, reaching temperatures of 27 or 28 degrees. This dryness might have quickly removed some moisture from the playing surface.
"It wasn't a significant impact, so I believe England will feel pleased about capturing eight wickets. New Zealand will likely feel quite frustrated when reflecting on how they allowed England back into the match."
