Richardson puts Kiwis in command

Close New Zealand 284 for 5 (Richardson 93, Astle 64, Oram 64*) v England
Scorecard

Mark Richardson, with the help of Nathan Astle and Jacob Oram, boosted New Zealand to 284 for 5 on an intriguing opening day of the first Test at Lord's. After Stephen Fleming won the toss, Richardson batted sensibly and solidly for most of the day to give his side a slight edge against England.

This series promised to be a close affair, and today proved to be just that as the momentum swayed between the two teams until Oram's dynamic innings towards the close. Before that, England's bowlers twice pegged back New Zealand's progress, firstly after their good start in the morning, and later when Astle went on the rampage in the afternoon session. Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff were by far the pick of the attack, bowling England back into the game, but neither could prevent Richardson and Oram's vital stand of 106.

Richardson provided the backbone of the innings. He wasn't all thrills and spills by any means, more graft and grind. He took some time to settle down at the start, but he calmed the nerves with a square-drive and an elegant cut off Matthew Hoggard. He was happy to play second fiddle to all his partners while he played in his limited but effective manner, keeping out the straight ones, and hitting the bad balls. He guided Jones for two consecutive cover-drives on the way to his half-century, which he signalled with a punchy on-drive.

Richardson carried on jabbing balls through the offside, where the majority of his 16 boundaries came, but just when a fourth Test century was in sight, he was given out lbw to Stephen Harmison with three overs remaining for 93. To make the blow even worse for Richardson, replays showed the ball hit the bat before his pad. He did have two earlier let-offs, however. Shortly after he had reached his half-century, he was lucky not to be run out at the non-striker's end after a mix-up with Astle, and on 56, Ashley Giles put down a hard chance in the gully.

On the whole, it was a mixed bag from England's attack. Hoggard and Harmison were initially far from their best, even with the help of the cloud cover hovering over London. They bowled too short and on a leg-side line, and though Marcus Trescothick, England's stand-in captain, kept faith with the Hoggard and Harmison combination, there were no repeats of their Caribbean carnage.

Fleming signalled his intent with four quick boundaries against the offline bowling. Things weren't quite going to plan for Trescothick, but the aggressive Jones and the economic Flintoff managed to get England back on track. They slowly stemmed the runs by keeping a consistent line, and it was Jones who got the reward with the big wicket of Fleming. Jones bowled a wide, full delivery outside off, and Fleming skewed the ball to Andrew Strauss, the debutant, who took a good head-high catch at point (58 for 1).

England went to lunch in better spirits, but Astle then deflated them again with a cameo innings in the afternoon. He started off with a few streaky edges, but soon clicked into gear. He brought up the team's hundred with a spanking square-drive off Hoggard, and then played a sumptuous straight-drive two balls later. Hoggard and Harmison came in for more treatment, being whipped and walloped to all parts of the ground on the way to his half-century, including eight fours.

Astle continued his procession of boundaries, cutting and driving Jones to put two more in the four column as New Zealand slowly pulled away from England. He had an enormous slice of luck when, on 60, he nicked Flintoff between Graham Thorpe and Mark Butcher at second and third slip, who let the ball sail harmlessly between them. However, Flintoff got his deserved reward in the following over when the dangerous Astle nibbled at a straight one through to Geraint Jones, who was even more delighted to take his first Test catch (161 for 2).

And Jones was soon celebrating his second when Scott Styris nicked his third ball, off the other Jones (162 for 3). It was just the tonic England needed, and Hoggard then temporarily put England on top when he trapped Craig McMillan palpably in front of middle for 6 with one that nipped back a touch (174 for 4).

However, Oram, all 6ft 6ins of him, was immediately positive and took the initiative back New Zealand's way. He twice drove Harmison down the ground, and pulled Jones with dismissive ease. Giles was eventually given a whirl in the evening session, and he played out a little tussle with Oram - and the batsman came out well on top.

Oram smacked Giles down the ground, over midwicket, and twice over long-on on the way to his half-century from 53 balls. His unbeaten 64, including 10 boundaries, gave England a glimpse of what he will capable of during the series, and also set New Zealand up to a competitive score from which to accelerate tomorrow.