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New Zealand vs England: Shoaib Bashir leads tourists’ fightback in final session after Kane Williamson scores 93 | Cricket News

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Shoaib Bashir led the fightback as England bagged five New Zealand wickets in the final session after Kane Williamson hit 93 on day one of the first Test at a packed Hagley Oval.

Williamson, who missed the Kiwis’ recent 3-0 victory in India with a groin injury but replaced player of that series, Will Young, against England, fell seven runs short of what would have been a 33rd Test century as the hosts closed on 319-8 in Christchurch.

New Zealand were well placed on 227-4 in the evening but the dismissal of Williamson – caught at backward point off Brydon Carse (2-57) – triggered a wobble of 3-25, with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir (4-69) removing Tom Blundell (17) and debutant Nathan Smith (3).

Score summary – New Zealand vs England, first Test

New Zealand 319-8 in 83 overs: Kane Williamson (93), Tom Latham (47), Glenn Phillips (41no); Shoaib Bashir (4-69), Brydon Carse (2-57), Gus Atkinson (2-61)

Bashir then ended a frustrating 45-run stand between Glenn Phillips (41no) and Matt Henry (18) when the latter holed out at long-on as he added further to his earlier wicket of Rachin Ravindra (34).

Phillips () was dropped on nought as England captain Ben Stokes shelled a sharp chance at mid-off, with the same batter then overturning a caught-behind dismissal off Stokes on nine.

England were not bang at it in the morning and afternoon after electing to bowl on a green-tinged surface but were much-improved after tea as they began their bird for a first Test series win in New Zealand since a 2-1 triumph in 2008, under Michael Vaughan.

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New Zealand’s Kane Williamson was dejected after missing out on a 33rd Test century

The winners of this series will scoop the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, named in tribute to ex-New Zealand captain Martin Crowe and former England batter Graham Thorpe.

The trophy merges bats used by Crowe and Thorpe, who passed away in 2016 and 2024 respectively – Crowe’s bat was the one with which he scored a hundred at Lord’s in 1994, while Thorpe hit back-to-back centuries with his in New Zealand in 1997.

Moments of the day

  • Jacob Bethell makes England Test debut
  • England win toss and bowl on green surface
  • Gus Atkinson ousts Devon Conaway in second over
  • Kane Williamson scores 93 on Test return
  • England take five wickets in final session
  • England add wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson to squad

Williamson returns to Test cricket in style

Current New Zealand captain Tom Latham (47) added 58 with Williamson for the second wicket after Gus Atkinson (2-61) had caught Devon Conway (2) off his own bowling in the second over, taking smartly in his follow through to leave the home side 4-1.

Latham edged Carse behind to stand-in wicketkeeper Ollie Pope but Williamson went on to share half-century partnerships with Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell (19), alliances of 68 and 69 respectively.

Ravindra would have been dismissed on 21 on the stroke of lunch had England called for the review, with it later shown that the batter had snicked Stokes through to Pope.

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England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir took four wickets on day one at Hagley Oval

That blunder only cost the tourists 13 runs with Ravindra clothing a Bashir full toss to Zak Crawley at midwicket, before Mitchell top-edged Carse to Harry Brook at deep third early in the final session.

Thursday’s action in Christchurch also saw England debutant Jacob Bethell bowl one over of left-arm spin, with his first ball swept for four by Williamson before he tightened up thereafter.

Bethell will bat at No 3 for England with Pope dropping down to No 6 as he marries batting duties with keeping wicket following the tour-ending fractured thumb suffered by Jordan Cox.

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Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson has been added to England’s Test squad

England have called up uncapped Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinsonwith the 25-year-old due to arrive on Saturday and be an option for the second Test in Wellington next week.

Robinson would likely come in for Bethell but should the debutant impress in Christchurch and Pope continue the struggles that saw him average 11 in Pakistan in October with a top-score of 29, England could have a big decision to make.

England’s Test tour of New Zealand

  • First Test: November 28-December 2 (Christchurch)
  • Second Test: December 6-10 (Wellington)
  • Third Test: December 14-18 (Hamilton)

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