Bashir leads England’s fightback against New Zealand after Williamson’s 93
Shoaib Bashir Shines as England Restrict New Zealand on Day 1 of First Test
England’s Shoaib Bashir took four wickets to help his team recover from an early setback and limit New Zealand to 319/8 on the opening day of the first Test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
New Zealand, batting first, stumbled early when opener Devon Conway was dismissed for just two runs in the second over by Gus Atkinson, leaving the hosts at 4/1. However, Kane Williamson steadied the innings with a composed knock, building valuable partnerships along the way.
Williamson put together 78 runs with Rachin Ravindra (34) and later added 69 with Daryl Mitchell (19). He top-scored for New Zealand with 93 off 197 balls but fell in the third session, missing out on a century for the first time in six years in Test cricket.
Following his dismissal, New Zealand’s middle order faltered, losing three wickets quickly and slipping to 298/8. Glenn Phillips, however, provided resistance with an unbeaten 41 off 58 balls, and he will resume the innings alongside Tim Southee on Day 2.
Shoaib Bashir was England’s star bowler, claiming 4/72, while Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse chipped in with two wickets each to keep the match balanced after Day 1.
