Spinner Shoaib Bashir claimed four wickets for 69 runs as England managed to recover from a shaky start, reducing New Zealand to 319 for eight at the end of the first day of a closely contested first Test on Thursday. Seamers Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse each took two wickets, helping the tourists regain control every time New Zealand seemed poised to dominate at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.

Kane Williamson was dismissed just seven runs short of a century, while Black Caps captain Tom Latham fell three runs shy of a brisk half-century. Four wickets fell for 59 runs immediately after tea. Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry combined for a 46-run partnership for the eighth wicket to stabilize the innings, but Henry was caught for 18, giving Bashir his fourth wicket.

Phillips will resume on 41 not out alongside Tim Southee, who scored 10, with the late runs likely giving New Zealand the edge in a captivating contest. "I think both teams worked really hard, and from our perspective, we were pleased with the partnerships throughout," said Williamson. "But you always know there's going to be opportunities when the ball's in hand and it's doing a little bit. So there was some good fight there and they got some rewards late in the day. Both teams will be pleased with their efforts."

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bowl on a pitch with a green tinge, but New Zealand thwarted his early attempts to break through their batting lineup. Atkinson dismissed Devon Conway for two in the second over, while Carse struck before lunch to remove Latham, who edged at 47. Williamson and Rachin Ravindra added 68 runs for the third wicket before Stokes introduced Bashir, who separated them with a full toss. Ravindra punched the delivery straight to Zak Crawley at midwicket, departing with 34 runs.

Williamson, returning after a groin strain ruled him out of the recent series in India, hit consecutive boundaries off Bashir to reach a half-century off 90 balls and began building towards his 33rd Test century. New Zealand went to tea at 193-3, but England changed tactics with a short-ball barrage after the break, which had an immediate impact. Some rash shots from the home batters aided England, as Daryl Mitchell (19) holed out in the deep off Carse, while Tom Blundell (17) and new cap Nathan Smith (3) both fell to catches off Bashir's bowling.

The crucial wicket was Williamson's, who fell in the 90s for the first time since 2018, attempting to hit an Atkinson delivery but only managing to flash it to Crawley at point.

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