Kane Williamson marked his return to Test cricket with a composed half-century, steering New Zealand to 193/3 at tea on the opening day of the first Test against England at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The experienced batter, who missed the recent series in India due to a groin injury, remained unbeaten on 77, alongside Daryl Mitchell, who was 16 not out at the break.
England Makes Early Inroads
Opting to bowl first on a green-tinged pitch, England skipper Ben Stokes sought early breakthroughs. The visitors struck quickly as Gus Atkinson dismissed Devon Conway for just two, caught and bowled in his opening spell. Brydon Carse further dented New Zealand’s progress before lunch, removing captain Tom Latham for 47 just as he looked poised for a big innings.
Williamson Stabilizes the Innings
Following Latham’s departure, Williamson joined forces with Rachin Ravindra to stabilize New Zealand’s innings. The pair added a crucial 68-run partnership for the third wicket. However, England’s young spinner Shoaib Bashir broke the stand with a deceptive full toss, tempting Ravindra into a mistimed shot that found Zak Crawley at midwicket. Ravindra departed for a well-constructed 34, visibly frustrated as he left the field.
Williamson in Control
Despite the hot northwesterly winds causing challenges for the umpires to keep the bails in place, England’s bowlers struggled to trouble Williamson. Displaying his trademark patience and precision, the veteran batter brought up his 36th Test half-century with consecutive boundaries off Bashir, reaching the milestone off 90 balls. Williamson steadily progressed toward what could be his 33rd Test century, demonstrating the class and temperament that have defined his illustrious career.
England Bowlers Struggle to Maintain Pressure
While England’s bowlers enjoyed some success in the morning session, they found it difficult to dislodge Williamson during the afternoon. With Mitchell providing support at the other end, New Zealand appeared well-placed to build a strong total heading into the final session of the day.
The stage is set for an intriguing battle as Williamson aims to convert his start into a significant score, while England will look for breakthroughs to regain control of the match.
