Pacer Tim Southee bowled exceedingly well on the fourth day and picked a five-wicket haul to put New Zealand in a commanding position in the first Test against England at Lord’s. He went on to the Lord’s Honours Boards once again after his maiden appearance in 2013. It was his 12th five-wicket haul in the longest format.
He picked the wicket of Zak Crawley on the second day of the Test and followed it up with the three big wickets of Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and James Bracey in one spell to put England under real pressure. Till the fall of Ollie Robinson, Southee’s bowling figure read 22-8-37-5 and his control over swing and line and length broke the back of England’s batting on the fourth day.
Starting the fourth day, England were rocked early by Kyle Jamieson who eliminated Joe Root on the very first ball of the day and Southee took it on from there to put New Zealand on the ascendency with a good chance of taking the first-innings lead.
For England, Rory Burns has been the lone man standing at one end while his teammates have fallen to some intelligent bowling from the Kiwis and their poor application at the crease with the bat in hand.