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England collapse against New Zealand in first Test / Photo: © AFP
England collapse against New Zealand in first Test
England suffered a dramatic top-order collapse on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand on Thursday, slumping to 55-5 in bowler-friendly conditions.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham decided to field first after winning the toss and pacemen Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke vindicated his decision, taking two wickets apiece.
Several England batsmen fell for single-figure scores, with debutant Emilio Gay out for eight, while Joe Root and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith both scored just one run.
Gay, playing in place of dropped opener Zak Crawley, hit his first ball in Test cricket for four but was first to go with the score on 16 when he edged Jamieson to Daryl Mitchell in the slips.
Rain forced an early lunch, with England 24-1 off 10 overs.
Nathan Smith trapped opening batsman Ben Duckett lbw for 19 before Jacob Bethell was dismissed in similar fashion by O'Rourke to leave England 33-3.
Rourke next captured the prized wicket of Root, caught behind as he opened the face a touch, before Smith was clean bowled playing no shot to a Jamieson ball that cut back and knocked out his off stump.
Harry Brook gave England fans something to cheer with a couple of resounding pulls for four before he was joined in the middle by captain Ben Stokes.
England, in the opening Test of a three-match series, had moved on to 83-5 by the end of the 26th over.
N.Wilson--SFF
