With the exception of Glenn Phillips, the Black Caps’ batting unit struggled in both innings. Just days after arriving from the Indian Premier League – without red ball match practice since December 2025 – Phillips was positive at the crease, scoring 34 and 44 not out to finish the test with the most runs on either side, as another example of why he needs to bat higher than No 7.
Tom Blundell leaves the field after being dismissed on the final day against England. Photo / Photosport
England’s Gus Atkinson proved to be the hero in the fourth innings, claiming 5-30 to bring an end to the test before the lunch break.
New Zealand will rue missed chances in the field. Gay’s second innings half-century came after the Black Caps failed to review an LBW shout that would have seen him out for 24. Harry Brook was dropped on eight before going on to make 56 in the first innings. Those extra runs ultimately proved pivotal for England.
Despite defeat, the Black Caps can take positives from Lord’s. Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke bowled exceptionally on their returns from back stress fractures, taking six and five wickets respectively. Nathan Smith also continued to press his case as a test regular with eight wickets of his own, including 6-70 in the second innings.
The loss marks not just New Zealand’s first of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, but their first under coach Rob Walter, who had previously banked series victories over Zimbabwe and the West Indies in his first year in charge.
The Black Caps fall from second to fourth in the World Test Championship standings, as reigning champions South Africa and Sri Lanka both leapfrog New Zealand to sit behind Australia.
The second test begins on June 17 at the Oval, before both sides head north to Nottingham for the finale on June 25.
After rain wiped out most of day three, the Black Caps resumed at 55-5, still 199 runs away from an unlikely victory. Resuming his innings, Tom Blundell added just two more to his score before he was wrapped on the pads by another ball that kept low from Josh Tongue, for four.
Coming together at 58-6, it took Devon Conway and Phillips just 64 balls to raise a 50-stand, and take the target below 150.
Having batted on all four days of the test, Conway was dropped on 24, almost ramping the ball to Brook at second slip, but would fall for 41 when a mistimed flick off Ben Stokes was held by Jacob Bethell coming forward in the gully, to leave the Black Caps out of specialist batters for 41 off 91 deliveries.
Atkinson’s return to the attack drew the wicket of Smith (4), caught behind by namesake Jamie, and then had Jamieson (6) caught at midwicket to leave the Black Caps 124-9.
With only an injured Matt Henry for company, Phillips looked to accelerate, and hit seven boundaries and one six in his 52-ball stay. But limited by the back spasms he suffered on day one, Henry missed a straight ball from Atkinson to lose his stumps, and bring the first test to an end.
England 140 & 226
New Zealand 113 & 138 (Phillips 44 not out; Atkinson 5-30)
England win by 115 runs
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.