(MENAFN- Arab Times) England completed a remarkable win to beat New Zealand by 124 runs in the first Test at Lord's on Monday. New Zealand, set 345 to win on the fifth and final day, were dismissed for 220 as England won the 100th Test between the two countries to go 1-0 up in this two-match series ahead of the second Test at Headingley on Friday.
For England, without a permanent head coach following the sacking of Peter Moores and coming off the back of a disappointing 1-1 series draw in the West Indies, this was just the morale boost they needed.
New Zealand, who had earlier collapsed to 12 for three, were again in dire straits at 61 for five after man-of-the-match Ben Stokes had taken two wickets in two balls.
But the gritty BJ Watling, whose 59 was his second fifty of the match, and the dashing Corey Anderson (75), kept England at bay during a sixth-wicket stand of 107.
However, both batsmen fell in quick succession to leave New Zealand 174 for seven.
New Zealand were rocked from the outset of their second innings, losing both openers for ducks without a run on the board in a match where, for the most part, they had been on top. The second ball saw Martin Guptill become James Anderson's 399th Test wicket, caught in the slips by Gary Ballance.
New Zealand were still on nought when Stuart Broad's first ball of the second over had Tom Latham lbw for a golden duck. For New Zealand, it was all starting to become horribly reminiscent of their last Test at Lord's, in 2013, when they slumped to 68 all out chasing 239.
The collapse continued when Broad, who took a Test-best seven for 44 against New Zealand at Lord's two years ago, had Ross Taylor plumb lbw for eight.
New Zealand took the score on to 61 before Stokes, who on Sunday scored the fastest Test century at Lord's, off just 85 balls, struck twice in two balls.
Kane Williamson, who made 132 in the first innings, fell for 27 when he guided Stokes to Joe Root in the gully.
And next ball New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum played on to a Stokes inswinger.
Given a roar by the crowd worthy of Ian Botham or Andrew Flintoff, Stokes, the New Zealand-born son of former Kiwi rugby league international Ged Stokes, who came to England as a 12-year-old, charged in again.
But Corey Anderson survived the hat-trick delivery, allowing the ball to pass his stumps.
Anderson, in Stokes-like fashion, later pulled the Durham all-rounder for six.
Deciding attack was the best form of defence, Anderson completed a 44-ball fifty in which 46 of his runs - 10 fours and a six - came in boundaries.
Soon after tea, James Anderson nearly had his 400th Test wicket when Watling, on 40, was given out caught behind down the legside only for the batsman to overturn Indian umpire S Ravi's decision on review.
But Watling had to go when he gloved debutant fast bowler Mark Wood through to wicket-keeper Jos Buttler.
England then saw the back of dangerman Corey Anderson, lbw to part-time off-spinner Root, with Ravi's initial decision of 'out' seeing the tightest of 'umpire's call' verdicts fall in their favour when the batsman reviewed.
New Zealand lost their next two wickets on 198 but, with the draw now their only realistic goal, last man Trent Boult somehow managed to get out playing an attacking upper-cut off Broad, with Moeen Ali taking a fine catch running back at third man.
Scoreboard
ENGLAND 1st Innings 389 (J Root 98, B Stokes 92, J Buttler 67, M Ali 58; T Boult 4-79, M Henry 4-93)
NEW ZEALAND 1st Innings 523 (K Williamson 132, M Guptill 70, R Taylor 62, BJ Watling 61 no, T Latham 59; S Broad 3-77, M Wood 3-93, M Ali 3-94)
ENGLAND 2nd Innings (overnight: 429-6)
Lyth c Southee b Boult 12
Cook c Latham b Boult 162
Ballance b Southee 0
Bell c Latham b Southee 29
Root c Boult b Henry 84
Stokes c Taylor b Craig 101
Buttler c Latham b Henry 14
Ali lbw b Boult 43
Broad b Boult 10
Wood not out 4
Anderson b Boult 0
Extras (b2, lb12, w5) 19
Total (all out, 129 overs, 571 mins) 478
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Lyth), 2-25 (Ballance), 3-74 (Bell), 4-232 (Root), 5-364 (Stokes), 6-389 (Buttler), 7-455 (Cook), 8-467 (Broad), 9-478 (Ali), 10-478 (Anderson).
Bowling: Boult 34-8-85-5; Southee 34-4-162-2 (1w); Henry 29-3-106-2 (3w); Craig 28-3-96-1 (1w); Anderson 3-0-13-0; Williamson 1-0-2-0.
NEW ZEALAND 2nd Innings (target: 345)
Guptill c Ballance b Anderson 0
Latham lbw b Broad 0
Williamson c Root b Stokes 27
Taylor lbw b Broad 8
BJ Watling c Buttler b Wood 59
McCullum b Stokes 0
Anderson lbw b Root 67
Craig b Stokes 4
Southee c and b Ali 20
Henry not out 10
Boult c Ali b Broad 10
Extras (b5, lb7, w2, nb1) 15
Total (all out, 67.3 overs, 300 mins) 220
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Guptill), 2-0 (Latham), 3-12 (Taylor), 4-61 (Williamson), 5-61 (McCullum), 6-168 (Watling), 7-174 (Anderson), 8-198 (Craig), 9-198 (Southee), 10-220 (Boult).
Bowling: Anderson 14-5-31-1 (1w); Broad 16.3-3-50-3 (1nb); Wood 13-3-47-1; Stokes 11-3-38-3 (1w); Ali 8-3-35-1; Root 5-3-7-1.
Result: England won by 124 runs
Series: England lead two-match series 1-0
Toss: New Zealand
Umpires: S Ravi (IND), Marais Erasmus (RSA)
TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
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