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25-May-2015 17:16:00 GMT
England v New Zealand, 1st Investec Test, Lord's

England Seal Thrilling Win Over New Zealand

London: England produced a magnificent final-day bowling display to win the first Test against New Zealand by 124 runs.

In front of a raucous Lord's crowd, the hosts bowled the Black Caps out for 220 with 9.3 overs left on the final day.

Ben Stokes took 3-38, including the wickets of Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum in successive deliveries.

England, who were earlier bowled out for 478 to set New Zealand a target of 345, take a 1-0 lead into the final Test at Headingley starting on Friday.

The win completed a remarkable turnaround for Alastair Cook's side, who had slipped to 30-4 on day one and conceded a 134-run first-innings deficit.

Perhaps more importantly, a thrilling display will do much to boost public affection for an England side who have endured 18 months of turmoil on and off the field and were playing their first Test since the sacking of coach Peter Moores.

Durham all-rounder Stokes was the catalyst on the final afternoon. Having already partnered Joe Root in the first-day fightback and blazed an 85-ball hundred on day four, his over to dismiss Williamson and McCullum was reminiscent of Andrew Flintoff in the 2005 Edgbaston Ashes Test.

Bowling with pace and hostility, Stokes twice found bounce to go past Williamson's edge, with a third ball fended to Root at gully.

Next ball, roared in by a baying crowd, he produced a vicious inswinger to McCullum that the dangerous New Zealand captain could only jam down on to his stumps.

That twin strike echoed England's dominant start to the innings, when Broad and James Anderson swung the ball on a full length to reduce the tourists to 12-3.

From only the second delivery, Martin Guptill edged a perfect outswinger to third slip to give Anderson his 399th Test wicket.

Broad then pinned Tom Latham leg before for a golden duck and had Ross Taylor playing across the line to depart in similar fashion.

Williamson steadied in the company of BJ Watling, promoted above McCullum to number five, but after Stokes's devastating over left the visitors 61-5, Corey Anderson arrived to counter-attack.

Clubbing through the leg side, left-hander Anderson shared 107 with the stout Watling, who had to endure a barrage of short bowling as Cook regularly shuffled his bowlers and fielders.

Both men registered half-centuries in delaying England for more than 26 overs and the chances of New Zealand surviving were increasing until Mark Wood produced a lifter that Watling edged behind to depart for 59.

Brief scores
England -
389 (Root 98, Stokes 92, Boult 4-79, Henry 4-93) and 478 (Cook 162, Stokes 101, Root 84, Boult 5-85)
New Zealand - 523 (Williamson 132, Guptill 70, Watling 62) and 220 (Anderson 67, Watling 59, Stokes 3-38)
Status - England won by 124 runs


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