England stun New Zealand to win first Test

LONDON: England completed a remarkable win to beat New Zealand by 124 runs in the first Test at Lord´s on Monday.
New Zealand, set 345 to win on the fifth and final day, were dismissed for 220 as England won the 100th Test between the two countries to go 1-0 up in this two-match series ahead of the second Test at Headingley on Friday.
For England, without a permanent head coach following the sacking of Peter Moores and coming off the back of a disappointing 1-1 series draw in the West Indies, this was just the morale boost they needed.
"It´s one of the best matches I´ve ever been involved in," said England captain Alastair Cook.
"It was just a brilliant, brilliant day," said Cook, whose hundred on Sunday allied to man-of-the-match Ben Stokes´s fastest-ever Test century at Lord´s helped turn the tide of the game.
New Zealand humiliated England during their run to the World Cup final and were on top in the early stages of this match only to be well-beaten come the finish.
"We got over 730 runs in the Test and still lost by more than 100 runs," said New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.
"It´s not every day that happens but we hold our heads high."
New Zealand were rocked from the outset of their chase, losing both openers for ducks without a run on the board.
The second ball saw Martin Guptill become James Anderson´s 399th Test wicket, caught in the slips by Gary Ballance.
New Zealand were still on nought when Stuart Broad´s first ball of the second over had Tom Latham lbw for a golden duck.
For New Zealand, it was all starting to become horribly reminiscent of their last Test at Lord´s, in 2013, when they slumped to 68 all out chasing 239.
The collapse continued when Broad, who took a Test-best seven for 44 against New Zealand at Lord´s two years ago, had Ross Taylor plumb lbw for eight. (AFP)