England fight back after early Kiwi jolt

Cricket First Test: Stokes, Root bring hosts back into the match

Ben Stokes hit a sparkling 92 to inspire an England fight-back after they had made a dreadful start to the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on Thursday.

Stokes and Joe Root (80 batting) shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 161 to lift England to 219 for five at tea, a position of unimaginable prosperity after they had collapsed to 30 for four in the first hour having been sent into bat.

Stokes, promoted up the order after Moeen Ali was unable to get ready in time following a net session, and Root steadied the ship, taking England to lunch at 113 for four.
They continued the momentum in the afternoon at a sun-kissed Lord's with a fluent and purposeful stand studded with crisp boundaries, frustrating the New Zealanders.

Root reached his fifty off 53 balls and Stokes got to his half century off 55 before cutting loose.

He launched Matt Henry over square leg for six and was closing in on his second Test century when he opted to leave a ball from off-spinner Mark Craig and was bowled.

The 23-year-old all-rounder, who hit 15 fours in his 94-ball cameo, hung his head in disappointment but received a standing ovation as he trudged back to the pavilion, falling short of a century.
Root was joined by Jos Buttler (13 not out) and the pair took their side comfortably through to tea without further loss.
The first hour had belonged to New Zealand as England, reeling from weeks of controversy off the pitch, failed to cope with a rampant Kiwi pace attack.

Adam Lyth, on his debut, nicked Tim Southee to wicketkeeper BJ Watling for seven, Gary Ballance (1) edged Trent Boult to third slip, captain Alastair Cook was caught by Watling, hooking at Matt Henry, for 16 and Ian Bell  was bowled by debutant Henry for just one.

Thoughts around the ground may have turned to discarded batsman Kevin Pietersen, who was told last week he would not be selected by England this summer despite scoring a career-best 355 not out for Surrey.

The mercurial right-hander was attending golf's PGA Championship at Wentworth as the top order melted away but the efforts of Stokes and Root at least provided breathing space for beleaguered new England cricket director Andrew Strauss.

score board

England (I Innings):
Lyth c Watling b Southee    7
Cook c Watling b Henry    16
Ballance c Southee b Boult    1
Bell b Henry    1
Root (batting)    80
Stokes b Craig    92
Buttler (batting)    13
Extras (B-4, LB-2, NB-3)    9
Total (for 5 wickets, 55 overs)    219
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-25, 3-25, 4-30, 5-191.
Bowling: Boult 16-4-53-1; Southee 14-1-61-1; Henry 15-2-63-2; Craig 10-1-36-1.