New Zealand v England: Shoaib Bashir takes four wickets as tourists gain advantage on opening day of Test series

England's test match against New Zealand is finely poised after Shoaib Bashir took four wickets on the opening day as the tourists limited the Black Caps to 319-8. Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson both chipped in with a couple of wickets each, while Kane Williamson starred at the crease for the hosts with a knock of 93. "I think both teams will be pleased," Williamson told TNT Sports.

Highlights: Bashir takes four wickets as England make solid start in New Zealand

Video credit: TNT Sports

Shoaib Bashir took four wickets for England while Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson took two each on the opening day of their first test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

The hosts finished on 319-8 after England decided to bowl, kickstarted by captain Tom Latham’s opening knock of 47 before Kane Williamson added 93 with a brilliant knock.

Williamson enjoyed half-century partnerships with Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell as the Black Caps started positively.

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But sloppy wickets began to fall for New Zealand before Williamson was eventually undone, just shy of a century, as Zak Crawley caught him off Gus Atkinson's short ball.

Having already taken Ravindra with a flat, low full toss, and with Williamson dismissed, Bashir capitalised to do further damage to the hosts’ innings with three more wickets.

He stopped Tom Blundell on 17 before taking Nathan Smith for three, and then registered his fourth wicket to bowl Matt Hendry at long-on, ending an eight-wicket partnership of 46.

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Glenn Phillips remains not out on 41, as does Tim Southee on 10.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Williamson said: "It was challenging, we certainly had to work hard. We had some really good partnerships there.

"The ball sort of did a little bit throughout, but as we know the wicket here is generally pretty good, pretty fair for ball and bat.

"I think both teams worked really hard and from our perspective, we were pleased with our partnerships throughout, but you always know that there's going to be opportunities out there and when the ball is in hand and doing a bit.

"There was some fight there and they got some rewards later in the day. I think both teams will be pleased with their efforts and it just depends on how the surface changes throughout in terms of how valuable day one is for either team."

On Bashir, Williamson added: "I suppose with there predominantly being sideways movement and a bit of bounce, which we often see on this wicket, most wickets tend to go to guys that extract that, but he bowled nicely and into the wind and got a bit of drop.

"He's a tall guy and got some bounce too, so he got some nice rewards."

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Bashir has 'a lot of learning to do'

Bashir has impressed in an England shirt since his surprise inclusion on the tour of India, and has since been a mainstay among England bowlers.

He felt he underperformed during England's 2-1 series defeat to Pakistan in October, but he looked in much better form against New Zealand as he dismissed a quartet of Black Caps.

After the action, Bashir admitted that he was "not perfect" but feels grateful to be able to hone his craft at the top level.

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"I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but there was a bit of frustration when I was bowling out in Pakistan," he said.

"I'm still 21, I've still got a lot of learning to do. I'm just enjoying every moment and I'm just so thankful."

He added: "I'm learning on the job and I'm not perfect. Two years ago I didn't have a county. I'm just very, very thankful for what has happened over the last year."

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