Conway sets new record at Lord’s
New Zealand were bowled out for 378 in the first innings after lunch on day two as England's fast bowlers cleaned up the middle order and tail on Thursday but not before opening batsman Devon Conway smashed a double century and nearly carried his bat.
The visitors started the day on 246-3 but lost wickets at regular intervals as Mark Wood picked up three for just seven runs in a fiery spell in the first session while Ollie Robinson finished with 4-75 on his test debut.
Conway, who set a record for the highest score on Test debut at Lord's in the opening day, was in danger of missing out on a first double ton on Test debut at Lord's when New Zealand were nine down but he received support from their number 11 Neil Wagner who frustrated England with 25 off 21 balls.
Conway became only the seventh batsman to score a double century on debut, reaching the milestone with a six over long leg, before he became the last wicket to fall when he was run out by mere millimetres.
Conway and his cool and calm stroke play dominated the British media's review of the first day of the opening cricket Test.
Making his long-awaited debut in Test cricket, the 29-year-old Conway wasted little time proving his worth at the top of the order for New Zealand with a masterful performance.
Englishman Mike Atherton - a top-class opening batsman during his international career from 1989 until 2001 - told Sky Sports UK Conway's innings was as good as he's ever seen. "I can't think of an opener in this country, on debut, who has played better in recent times," he said.
"He [Conway] was incredibly assured and skilful. If you think back to the start of the day, there were bound to be some nerves jangling around, he was starved of the strike for 20 minutes but he didn't look like that affected him at all."
The Guardian's Simon Burnton said Conway's debut in the red-ball game was worth the wait for fans.
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