Conway hits ton to bolster Kiwis

London, June 2: New Zealand's Devon Conway joined a select group of cricketers on Wednesday by marking his Test debut with a splenid hundred

(136 off 240 balls) at Lord’s to lead New Zealand to 246 for 3 against England at the end of first Day’s play.

The South Africa-born opener found himself thrust into the action straight away after New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and batted in the first of a two-match series against England.

But while star batsman Williamson and the experienced Ross Taylor both fell cheaply, the 29-year-old Conway pressed on to a

163-ball century, reaching the landmark with a flamboyant whipped legside four, his 11th boundary off England debutant fast bowler Ollie Robinson.

Only five other batsmen had previously scored a Test debut hundred at

Lord’s, with Conway the first New Zealand international to achieve the feat.

New Zealand had the better of the morning session to be 85-1 at lunch after Williamson won the toss.

But James Anderson, equalling retired former captain Alastair Cook’s England record of 161 Test appearances, struck in the first over after the interval to remove star batsman Williamson for 13 as the runs dried up.

And fast bowler Robinson, who’d earlier dismissed Tom Latham, then had the 37-year-old Taylor lbw for 14.

Latham and Conway made a steady start against England new-ball greats Anderson and Stuart Broad after Black Caps skipper Williamson won the toss. — AFP Brief scores (Day 1): New Zealand 246/3 in 86 overs (Devon Conway 136 batting; O. Robinson 2/50) vs England.