First Test - day one (close)
New Zealand 175-3 v England 58
SOMERSET'S Craig Overton saved England from recording their lowest ever Test match score on day one of the first Test against New Zealand in Auckland.
Overton entered the fray at 23-7, which then became 27-9 - still 18 runs short of the 45 all out against Australia in 1887 which remains England's nadir.
The 23-year-old counter-attacked successfully, however, as he did on debut in Adelaide when he also top scored, and hit five fours and a six as part of a last-wicket stand of 31 with James Anderson.
England's misery was complete when Anderson chipped to backward point, leaving Overton stranded on 33 not out and England all out for 58 in just over an hour and a half.
A sedate first four overs had offered little sign of what was to come, but the carnage began when Alastair Cook (5) edged Trent Boult to second slip.
Captain Joe Root was in at three having moved up the order, with Ben Stokes only fit enough to play as a batsman and James Vince sacrificed, but the skipper lasted only six balls before he was clean bowled by Boult without scoring.
Dawid Malan (2) then nicked behind before Mark Stoneman (11), Stokes (0) and Jonny Bairstow (0) all fell with the score on just 18.
Chris Woakes (5) was next to go before Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad became the fourth and fifth players to depart for ducks, with the latter falling to an incredible one-handed catch by Kane Williamson at gully.
Then came the resistance from Anderson and, primarily, Overton before England's innings was wrapped up in the 21st over - Bould ended with 6-32 and Tim Southee with 4-25.
Anderson then claimed an early breakthrough as Jeet Raval edged behind, but New Zealand passed England's total for the loss of just one wicket.
Stuart Broad claimed his 400th Test wicket when he removed Tom Latham, while Anderson later dismissed Ross Taylor, but home captain Kane Williamson showed his class by making his way to an unbeaten 91 to lead his side to a thoroughly dominant position by the close.
Overton bowled steadily without a breakthrough, finishing with 0-43 from 15 overs, while his spirit with the bat impressed onlookers.
No.9 Craig Overton's 33 accounted for 56.9% of Eng's 58 runs.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) March 22, 2018
That's the 3rd highest percentage of a team's innings by someone batting 7 or lower.
1. Kapil Dev, 129/215, 60.0%, batting 7, Ind v SA, 1992-93
2. Asif Iqbal, 146/255, 57.3%, batting 9, P v E, Oval 1967#NZvENG
Lord Craig Overton of Instow.
— Ashley Connick (@AshleyConnick) March 22, 2018
Craig Overton an early contender for S.P.O.T.Y
— Joe (@joem167) March 22, 2018
Craig Overton though 😍🙌🏻
— Lloyd Alley (@lloyd_alley89) March 22, 2018
England 58 all out? Is it April Fools day already? Oh dear, clearly missed a lot overnight. 🙈💩 The only positive from that batting performance is Craig Overton was top scorer. #NZvENG
— Andy Cleave (@CleaveO) March 22, 2018
Craig Overton has been impressive for England. Even during the Ashes, he stood up with his batting skills while bowling well too. Feels bad to see him being stuck at the non-striker's end. #NZvEng
— Ashish Shahpur (@ashishshahpur) March 22, 2018
Craig Overton walking back into the England dressing room... pic.twitter.com/mFeYlcgf1X
— David Abricossow (@d_m_ab) March 22, 2018
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