Devon Conway who debuted for Kiwis on Wednesday during the first game of the England vs New Zealand Test series saved the day for the New Zealand side here at the Lord’s cricket ground.
Conway who opened the innings for NZ along with Tom Lathan, made a dream debut as he scored a century in the very first innings he played for New Zealand.
Kiwis who won the toss elected to bat first on an English sunny day. Tom Latham and Conway duo who opened the innings for the visiting side made sure they put a decent score for the first wicket. Indeed they did. But, it was during the last ball of the 15th over when England witnessed their first break when the debutant Ollie Robinson bowled Tom Lathan as ollie shortened his length and angled one across the left-hand batsman. Latham misjudged it and played it with a slightly angled face bat which led to an inside edge that made the ball blatter the stumps as Robison picked his maiden Test wicket. Latham was batting on 23 then and New Zealand had 58 runs on board when they lost their first wicket.
Kane Willamson who came in at number three for Latham joined hands with Conway and assured them they put a good score on the board before they depart to lunch. At the end of the first session, New Zealand was at 83/1 of 25 overs.
Kiwis who had won the respect in the first session of the play had to witness an early breakthrough as James Anderson struck on the fourth ball bowled post-lunch. Anderson who did his usual bit of nibbling it back in just a sight bit from that fourth stump channel and Kane who tried to hang on his crease and dab on it had to end his innings as he edged the ball inside which led to hitting the stumps.
Ross Taylor who came in for Kane Williamson struggled to encounter the cheesy swings bowled at him by Stuart Broad. He got beaten several times when he faced Stuart. But, it was the 27-year-old Robinson who was lucky to get Taylor’s wicket as the experienced batsman fell for an LBW. When Taylor walked back to the pavilion, he was just batting on 14 facing 38 balls.
But, debutant Conway, who was batting on 43 post-lunch, stood rock-solid and went onto reach his maiden Test century as he flicked the ball to the mid-wicket for a boundary. With this, Conway became the 12th New Zealand batsman to hit a century on a debut.
Henry Nicholls who came to the middle at number 5 paired up with Conway and made sure the visitors doesn’t lose any more wickets for the day. The left-hand batsmen who played the patient game scored 46 facing 149 balls.
At the end of the first day’s play, New Zealand is at 246/3 from 86 overs bowled and Devon Conway became the saver of the day for the Kiwis side as he is stayed not out at 136 after facing 240 balls and hitting 16 boundaries.
Also, play will resume at 3.30 PM according to the Indian time.
