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  "path": "/sport/cricket/england-beat-new-zealand-first-test-match",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-07T12:08:54.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Lee Dixon sparks fan backlash with comments on England star in underwhelming New Zealand win",
    "Tyson Fury to spend £42m on 'retirement present' for himself ahead of Anthony Joshua fight",
    "Rory McIlroy reveals major UK move with wife Erica Stoll",
    "pic.twitter.com/ZeIdjrV39X",
    "June 7, 2026",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter",
    "@englandcricket"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nEngland secured a much-needed winning start to their summer campaign by defeating New Zealand by 115 runs at Lord's, easing some of the pressure that followed their disappointing Ashes defeat in Australia.\n\nBen Stokes' side required less than a full morning session on the fourth day to wrap up victory and move 1-0 ahead in the three-match Test series, with the hosts ruthlessly exploiting challenging batting conditions to complete the job.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAfter being set a target of 254, New Zealand resumed on 55-5 and always faced an uphill battle on a surface that had caused problems throughout the match.\n\nAny lingering hopes of a fightback were quickly extinguished when England struck almost immediately after play resumed on Sunday.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nJosh Tongue needed only a handful of deliveries to make the breakthrough, trapping Tom Blundell in front as the tourists slipped further into trouble.\n\nWith the ball continuing to seam, bounce unpredictably and swing under overcast skies, New Zealand struggled to establish any momentum.\n\nGlenn Phillips briefly offered resistance, launching a counter-attack alongside Devon Conway in an attempt to drag his side back into contention.\n\nThe pair added valuable runs for the seventh wicket and looked capable of frustrating England's bowlers for a period.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nEngland were handed a chance during the partnership when Conway survived after Harry Brook failed to hold a catch in the slips.\n\nHowever, the breakthrough eventually arrived when Stokes tempted Conway into a mistake, opening the door for England to finish the job.\n\nOnce that wicket fell, the collapse accelerated.\n\nNathan Smith was dismissed edging behind, Kyle Jamieson followed shortly afterwards and Matt Henry became the final man out as England wrapped up victory in convincing fashion.\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Lee Dixon sparks fan backlash with comments on England star in underwhelming New Zealand win\n  * Tyson Fury to spend £42m on 'retirement present' for himself ahead of Anthony Joshua fight\n  * Rory McIlroy reveals major UK move with wife Erica Stoll\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n> YES BOYS! 🦁\n>\n> A winning start to our Test match summer 💪\n>\n> Victory by 115 runs at Lord's pic.twitter.com/ZeIdjrV39X\n>\n> — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 7, 2026\n\nThe star of the show was once again Gus Atkinson.\n\nThe Surrey fast bowler claimed outstanding figures of 5-30 to add another memorable chapter to his growing list of achievements at Lord's.\n\nHis performance proved decisive as England's pace attack dominated a match in which seam bowlers held complete control from start to finish.\n\nThe contest continued a recent pattern involving England, with matches increasingly being decided at remarkable speed.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSeveral Tests during the Ashes series were completed in little more than two days, while this encounter became notable for another unusual statistic.\n\nNot a single ball of spin was delivered by either side throughout the match, marking the first Test in England since 1988 to be completed without any spin bowling whatsoever.\n\nThe pitch inevitably became a major talking point.\n\nConditions consistently favoured the seamers and many observers felt the surface prevented the match from developing into a balanced contest between bat and ball.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nNew Zealand's own shortcomings compounded their problems.\n\nThe tourists were unusually untidy in the field, missing several opportunities that might have altered the course of the game and allowing England to establish a decisive advantage.\n\nYet England will not be concerned by complaints over the spectacle.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFollowing a difficult winter and the disappointment of a heavy Ashes defeat, the immediate priority was securing a result and rebuilding confidence.\n\nNow, England have done exactly that.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "England beat New Zealand by 115 runs in first Test match of series"
}