England vs New Zealand: Black Caps captain Kane Williamson conceded that an ‘incredible’ Joe Root took the game away from them with a match-winning hundred in the Test series opener at Lord’s.
Truly unbelievable achievement: Kane Williamson heaps praise on Joe Root (AP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Joe Root hit a matfch-winning hundred in the Lord’s Test
- Root also completed 10,000 runs in Test cricket on Sunday
- England took a 1-0 lead over New Zealand in 3-match Test series
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson paid tribute to Joe Root after the former England captain helped the hosts win the first Test at Lord’s by 5 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in a 3-match series on Sunday, June 5. Root hit an unbeaten 115 as England gunned down 277 on Day 4 against a strong Black Caps bowling line-up that bowled England out for 141 in the first innings.
As he got to his hundred, Joe Root also became the 2nd England batter and the 14th overall to complete 10,000 runs in Test cricket. Root, at 31, became the first batter in the history of the sport to complete 10,000 runs in his first 10 years of international cricket.
New Zealand sealed the upper hand when England were reduced to 69 for 4 in the final innings but newly-appointed captain Ben Stokes and Root stitched a 90-run stand to steer the team out of trouble. Root carried on after Stokes’s exit and made sure England got past the finish line with 5 wickets to spare.
“It was a fantastic game of cricket which took an incredible innings from an amazing player to get them across the line. It’s truly an unbelievable achievement, recognising the quality of the player and also his longevity,” Williamson said of Root.
New Zealand were in a commanding position as they led by 242 runs in their second innings with six wickets remaining, but lost three in three balls to open the door for England to fight back and, in the end, complete a comfortable victory.
‘PLENTY OF LEARNINGS’
England were expected to crumble in the 4th innings, given their recent history in Test cricket but Williamson conceded that the New Zealand bowlers were denied help from the conditions on Day 3 evening and Day 4 morning at Lord’s.
“We thought there might be some assistance from the overhead (conditions) but it wasn’t to be,” Williamson said. “It’s about moving on quickly and taking the learnings. There’s always plenty to take forward.”
The 2nd Test gets underway in Nottingham as New Zealand will look to bounce back stronger. The defending world Test champions are likely to be without all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme who was ruled out of the series opener midway through the Test due to a heel injury.
“Everybody wants to be contributing more,” Williamson said. “We’ll reflect on this and look forward to the next one.