Sat Dec 14 10:31:10 UTC 2024: ## England Fight Back After New Zealand’s Strong Start in Thrilling First Day of Test Match
**Wellington, New Zealand** – A thrilling opening day of the Test match between England and New Zealand saw a dramatic shift in momentum, ending with the hosts slightly ahead despite a strong England fightback. New Zealand started strongly, reaching 172 for 2, but a superb bowling performance from England, spearheaded by Matthew Potts and Gus Atkinson (three wickets each), saw them slump to 231 for 7. However, a late-innings blitz from the lower order, particularly a lusty 23 from Tim Southee (including three sixes in his final Test appearance), propelled New Zealand past 300, finishing on 315-9 at stumps.
England’s resurgence began after tea, with wickets falling regularly. Kane Williamson, who looked in ominous form earlier in the day, fell to Potts for just 40 runs – his fourth dismissal against Potts in Tests for only 11 runs. Other key wickets fell to Atkinson and Matthew Potts. However, Devon Conway and Tom Latham both provided substantial contributions earlier in the innings. Despite losing five wickets for 59 runs at one stage, New Zealand’s tail-enders showed impressive resilience. Mitchell Santner played a particularly impressive knock, scoring a courageous 50 off 54 balls, showcasing remarkable skill against a barrage of short-pitched bowling.
While England’s bowlers were ultimately successful in taking regular wickets, Ben Stokes’s late-innings bowling proved expensive. New Zealand’s late surge in scoring raises questions about whether their final total will prove to be a significant one. The day ended with a sense of parity, leaving the match finely poised for day two.
First Piper 