England vs New Zealand: Rain Halts Play at Lord's Amidst Persistent Downpour
11.07 am GMT - It continues to rain at Lord's, and it is quite a heavy downpour now. The radar does not make for particularly encouraging reading either, with plenty more rain expected through the afternoon. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but rain is forecast on all five days of the Test, with interruptions possible throughout the match. All we can do is hope for the best.
Summarising the action so far - It still felt like both sides were feeling each other out before the rain arrived and brought play to a halt. After being asked to bat, England's batters have had to work hard for their runs, with the surface proving to be on the slower side. It was a brief stay for debutant Emilio Gay, who became Kyle Jamieson's first victim of the morning. The tall Kiwi took a few deliveries to find his radar, but once he did, he managed to prise out the left-hander. Usually one to take the game on, Ben Duckett has dialled back the aggression and adopted a more watchful approach, while Jacob Bethell has had a few plays and misses in his stay so far.
10.45 am GMT - As the umpires gather on the adjacent strip to discuss the looming weather threat, the downpour suddenly intensifies. The officials quickly suspend play and signal for the players to leave the field, prompting the ground staff to rush out with the hover cover. Michael Atherton reckons we could be in for a significant delay, with this band of rain expected to linger for the next hour or two. He remains optimistic about play resuming later in the day once the worst of the weather has passed.
2
Overs9.5
Score24 - 1
Kyle Jamieson to Jacob Bethell, Nicely done. Jamieson bashes the hard length, over off. Bethell hops and gets on top of the bounce. He opens the bat face to beat the diving backward point fielder to his right and comes back for the second run.
0
Overs9.3
Score21 - 1
Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Taken but no bat involved. Bowled on a length, on middle. Duckett stays back to defend but the ball jags back in to beat him on the inside edge. It pings him on the thigh before it is taken at second slip by Kane Williamson.
0
Overs8.6
Score21 - 1
Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, End of a testing first over from Smith, a maiden. A bit fuller now, around off. Bethell shows the full face of the bat but the ball drops off the outer half beside the strip on the off side. Jacob is keen for a single but Nathan gets to the ball quickly and cuts it off.
0
Overs7.5
Score21 - 1
Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Oh, that took off. This will put the seed of doubt in the minds of these two batters. For the most part, the ball has stayed relatively low so far, but this one has kicked up sharply. On a hard length, over off. This rears up as Ben tries to fend it down. It dribbles off the shoulder of the blade towards gully.
0
Overs7.2
Score21 - 1
Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Nipping back in, on a slightly back of a length, on middle and leg. Duckett shapes up to turn it square on the leg side but is beaten on the inside edge and gets hit on the thigh pad.
1
Overs6.2
Score19 - 1
Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Nearly chopped it back onto the stumps! Just around the line of the off pole, on a nagging length. Duckett hangs back for the block but the ball jags back in to catch the inside edge. It catches Ben on the thigh before deflecting wide of square leg.
2
Overs5.5
Score18 - 1
Kyle Jamieson to Jacob Bethell, Drags the length back, on off. Bethell gets on his toes and rides the bounce nicely. He punches it through covers but the ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence. It is hauled in by a couple of fielders giving chase. Jacob opens his account with a couple of runs.
W
Overs5.3
Score16 - 1
Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, OUT! CAUGHT! Kyle Jamieson gets his radar right, and more than anything, the edge carries to the slip cordon. Jamieson hurls it on a back of a length, angled in at the off stump. Emilio Gay gets on his toes and presents a straight bat for the block. The ball angles in before straightening off the deck to catch the outside edge. It dies on Daryl Mitchell at first slip but he gets down on a knee and gets his hands out in front to take the catch above the ground. England lose their first wicket for 16.
1
Overs5.1
Score16 - 0
Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Bowled full and wide on off, but Duckett can not cash in. This swings away a bit and Ben attempts the cover drive but one hand comes off the bat handle. It goes wide of cover and the batters cross over.
0
Overs3.4
Score12 - 0
Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, That kept low. Bowled a bit into the surface, outside off. Emilio shapes up for the cut but the ball does not rise as much as the left-hander expected. Chops it down beside the strip on the off side off an inside edge.
0
Overs3.2
Score12 - 0
Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, Good comeback! More like it by Jamieson. Kyle hurls it on a good length, outside the off stump. Gay is drawn into the stroke as he pushes a bit away from his body. The ball whistles past the outside edge.
