Williamson 93, Latham 47; Bashir 4-69 Yet to bat Opting to field first on a green pitch that played true, England battled a stiff breeze and the brilliance of Kane Williamson, whose 93 formed the backbone of the home side's 319-8. Williamson shared half-century partnerships with all of Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, but the Black Caps were guilty of gifting wickets with loose strokes. Williamson was culpable, cutting a Gus Atkinson short ball to Zak Crawley when a century was at his mercy.
The Williamson wicket opened the door for England and Bashir took advantage. The off-spinner accounted for Tom Blundell and Nathan Smith, then ended a rapid eighth-wicket partnership of 46 when Matt Henry was caught at long-on. Glenn Phillips, dropped on nought by diving England captain Ben Stokes, remains unbeaten on 41.
This opening day was everything the series promised: keenly fought, tight and fluctuating. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Hagley Oval, its grass banks bursting with spectators, it was hard to imagine a more perfect setting for Test cricket. Stokes, in the city of his birth, surprised no one when he chose to field.
Despite the sunshine, Latham said he would have done the same, just as 12 captains in the previous 13 Tests at this ground have done. Whether England failed to get the ball in the right place often enough, or the pitch did not do its part, is up for debate but there seemed no obvious demons for the batters to battle. England threatened.
