Sibley digs in as England batsmen thwart New Zealand’s charge
LONDON: England batsmen resisted New Zealand’s victory charge on the final day as the first of the two Tests between the two sides ended in a draw at the Lord’s here on Sunday.
After New Zealand set the hosts a tricky but sporting target of 273 in 75 overs, the hosts opted for a cautious approach in the final two sessions, playing out for a draw. In the end, England were 170/3 in 70 overs, when Kiwi captain Kane Williamson offered the draw, with Dom Sibley on an unbeaten 60 and Ollie Pope calming the hosts’ nerves after they lost three wickets.
After Williamson declared their second innings at 169/6 at lunch, England openers Rory
Burns and Sibley arrived at the crease focusing only on blunting the new-ball bowling attack in a bid to save the Test.
The pair showed incredible patience in adding 49 runs by the 24th over before Burns (25) was caught in the slip cordon off Neil Wagner’s bowling.
Zak Crawley’s (2) stint at the crease did not last long as he dragged Tim Southee’s outswinging delivery to gully.
Earlier, New Zealand hoped to turn the result in their favour as they added to their overnight score of 62/2 with the loss of another four wickets before rain forced an early lunch.
England debutant Ollie Robinson was once again lethal in his opening spell, picking off the first wicket of the morning session as New Zealand nightwatchman Wagner edged a bouncer through to wicketkeeper James Bracey.
The tourists continued to look for boundaries to give their bowlers a chance to fight for a victory but lost wickets at regular intervals.
Brief scores: New Zealand 378 & 169/6d in 52.3 ov (T Latham
36, R Taylor 33; O Robinson 3/26) drew with 275 & 170/3 in 70 ov (D Sibley 60*, J Root 40; N Wagner 2/27)