England win Lord's Test by 115, Atkinson takes five wickets

England secured a commanding 115-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson sealed the win on the fourth day with a decisive five-wicket haul, his fourth in just three appearances at the historic ground.

Set a target of 254, New Zealand resumed their second innings on 55 for five but were bowled out for 138. The visitors’ chase faltered early when Josh Tongue dismissed Tom Blundell. A counter-attacking partnership of 53 between Devon Conway, who scored 41, and Glenn Phillips offered brief resistance. England captain Ben Stokes broke the stand by removing Conway, and Atkinson then swiftly ended the innings. He dismissed Nathan Smith and Kyle Jamieson before bowling Matt Henry to finish with figures of five for 30. Phillips was left unbeaten on 44.

The match was dominated by bowlers on a challenging pitch. In the first innings, New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson took five wickets to bowl England out for 140. England’s bowlers responded emphatically, dismissing New Zealand for 113 to claim a 27-run lead. Ollie Robinson, playing his first Test in over two years, led that effort with a five-wicket haul. In...