Conway’s first century gives New Zealand the upper hand on the first day : ENG VS NZ

New Zealand finished Day 1 of the first Test on 246/3, with Devon Conway unbeaten on 136* and Henry Nicholls scoring a patient 46*.

IMAGE TAKEN FROM : ICC

Kane Williamson would have been pleased with the manner his openers got his team off to a good start after winning the toss and electing to bat first. On a pitching surface that seemed to favour the batters, Tom Latham and Conway put up a 58-run stand.

Debutant Ollie Robinson, on the other hand, had an immediate impact, breaking the opening partnership. He was always testing the openers’ patience by bowling on a bothersome line and length. This paid off quickly, as Latham inside-edged the ball onto his stumps, and Robinson celebrated a moment he’d remember for the rest of his life. As the Blackcaps finished the first session on 85/1, Williamson joined Conway in the crease.

After lunch, it didn’t take long for James Anderson to have an effect, as Williamson played the ball late and ended up inside-edging it onto his off stump. Conway, on the other hand, remained steadfast in his approach, punishing the poor balls and scoring his first 50 on debut.

Robinson trapped Ross Taylor in front of the stumps for his second wicket of the day, allowing him to extend his stay at the crease. The visitors scored 59 runs in the session, expecting for a huge partnership between Conway and Henry Nicholls to put them in a good position after tea.

In the last session, the pair continued to chip away at the scoreboard, refusing to give the four-pronged English speed onslaught an inch. Conway scored his first Test century in style, smashing the ball through the leg-side as his colleagues celebrated from Lord’s iconic balcony. He became the sixth batsman in the history of the venue to achieve a century in his Test debut.

Despite the cloudy circumstances, the quicks were unable to extract much from the pitch, and the Kiwis finished the day in a good position at stumps – a position they will look to consolidate tomorrow.

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