NZ vs Eng 1st Test: Kane Williamson scores 93 to take New Zealand to 319-8 on Day 1

Kane Williamson scored 93 for New Zealand on Day 1 of first Test against England on November 28, 2024

Kane Williamson slipped seamlessly back into the New Zealand cricket team, top-scoring with 93 as the Black Caps reached 319-8 Thursday (November 28, 2024) on the first day of the first cricket Test against England.

At stumps, after 83 overs, Glenn Phillips was 41 not out and Tim Southee at the start of his last series before retirement was 10.

Williamson was injured and missed New Zealand's historic 3-0 series win over India in India last month. That meant he had played only two Tests and a recent domestic first-class match since June.

But he was unimpeded by his recent lack of activity, coming within seven runs of his 33rd Test century before falling midway through a final session in which New Zealand lost five wickets and some of the advantage it held earlier in the day.

New Zealand was in a strong position at 193-3 at tea with Williamson in full flight but England battled its way back into the match in the last session of a tiring day of warm conditions and blustery winds.

Shoaib Bashir took 4-69 in 20 overs, an unusually heavy workload for a spinner on the first day of a match at Hagley Oval.

Williamson shared partnerships of 58 with Tom Latham (47), 68 with Rachin Ravindra (34) and 69 with Daryl Mitchell (34) which bound together the New Zealand innings.