Cricket Highlights, November 28-DEC 1: England tour of New Zealand (1st Test) – New Zealand vs England

NZ vs ENG (1st Test) – Highlights

In this article, we will discuss the thrilling 1st Test between NZ and ENG held in Christchurch from November 28 to December 1, 2024, as part of England’s tour of New Zealand. This match witnessed a blend of resilience and dominance, with England showcasing their all-round prowess to secure an impressive 8-wicket victory. From standout batting performances to disciplined bowling spells, the game highlighted the competitive spirit of Test cricket.

England secured a commanding 8-wicket victory. Batting first, New Zealand posted 348, led by a strong start but eventually succumbed to England’s bowling attack. England responded emphatically with a massive 499, built on centuries from key batsmen.

New Zealand’s first innings saw a promising start but ended in disappointment as they struggled to build substantial partnerships. The opening wicket fell early when Devon Conway, who has been in solid form, was dismissed for just 2 runs by Gus Atkinson, caught by Ben Duckett. Tom Latham, the captain, played a gritty knock, contributing 47 runs off 54 balls, but was dismissed by Brydon Carse, caught behind by Ollie Pope.

Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, who had been impressive in the recent series, did not offer the kind of stability needed, and both fell quickly. Ravindra contributed 34 runs off 49 balls before being dismissed by Shoaib Bashir, while Mitchell made only 19 runs before falling to Carse. Tom Blundell, New Zealand’s wicketkeeper, also fell cheaply for 17 runs.

England’s bowlers, particularly Brydon Carse (4/64) and Shoaib Bashir (4/69), were the standout performers. Carse, with his disciplined line and length, consistently put pressure on the New Zealand batsmen, while Bashir, the spinner, extracted significant turn and bounce, proving to be a menace. Atkinson also contributed with 2 wickets for 61 runs, including the key dismissals of Williamson and Ravindra.

England’s response to New Zealand’s 348 was nothing short of remarkable. The team lost Zak Crawley early on for just 0 runs, as he was trapped lbw by Matt Henry. The pressure was on the England middle order to stabilize the innings, and they did so in style.

Ben Duckett played an attractive knock, scoring 46 runs off 62 balls, but his wicket fell to Will O’Rourke, caught by Devon Conway. Jacob Bethell also fell cheaply for 10 runs, caught behind by Tom Blundell off Nathan Smith’s bowling. At 45/3, England’s position looked precarious, but this was where the class of Harry Brook and Ollie Pope shone.

Ben contributed 80 runs off 146 balls, forming key partnerships with Brook and Pope to push the team closer to a significant lead. However, wickets started to fall quickly towards the end. Chris Woakes (1), Gus Atkinson (48), and Shoaib Bashir (5) were dismissed, but England had managed to amass a dominant 499 runs in their first innings.

The standout bowlers for NZ were Matt Henry (4/84) and Tim Southee (2/85), but the team was unable to stop the flow of runs. Henry’s efforts were crucial in dismissing key players, but the bowlers couldn’t sustain the pressure long enough to dismiss England cheaply.

New Zealand came into their second innings with the daunting task of chasing a target set by England, following on from their 348 runs in the first innings. The team needed to show resilience, but the England bowlers had other ideas.

Tom Latham and Devon Conway fell cheaply, managing just 1 and 8 runs, respectively. Latham’s wicket, caught behind off Chris Woakes, and Conway’s dismissal by Carse left New Zealand reeling at 23/2. Kane Williamson, who had been the star of the first innings, once again led the charge, scoring 61 runs off 86 balls. However, he was dismissed by Woakes, and New Zealand’s position continued to deteriorate.

The middle-order woes continued as Rachin Ravindra (24) and Tom Blundell (0) were dismissed cheaply, with Ravindra falling to Carse and Blundell caught behind off Woakes. Glenn Phillips (19), Nathan Smith (21), and Matt Henry (1) also failed to make significant contributions. Daryl Mitchell, who had top-scored with 84 runs in the second innings, tried to lead the fightback but was dismissed as the last wicket fell at 254 runs.

Once again, it was Brydon Carse (6/42) who was the chief destroyer for ENG, supported by Chris Woakes (3/59). Their discipline and attacking mindset kept New Zealand from building any meaningful partnerships, and the team was bowled out for just 254 runs.

Set a target of 104 runs to win, England’s chase got off to a rocky start when Zak Crawley was dismissed for 1 run by Matt Henry. However, Ben Duckett (27) and Jacob Bethell (50*) anchored the chase with solid knocks. Bethell played a crucial role, scoring 50 runs off 37 balls at a strike rate of 135.13, while Duckett provided the stability needed.

With these two at the crease, England reached the target of 104 runs with ease, finishing at 104/2 in just 12.4 overs. This comfortable victory by 8 wickets sealed a dominant performance by England in all aspects of the game.

New Zealand vs England Scoreboard

New Zealand – 348 & 254

England – 499 & 104/2

Result – England won by 8 wickets

Player of the Match – Brydon Carse

NZ vs ENG Playing Eleven

New Zealand

Tom Latham(C), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(WK), Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Will O’Rourke

England

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope(WK), Ben Stokes(C), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir

Disclaimer: This Highlights is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.