Stuart Broad produced an irresistible spell of new-ball bowling as New Zealand collapsed to 68 all out as England won the first Investec Test by 170 runs yesterday.
Broad put Tim Southee's 10-wicket match haul for the Kiwis entirely in the shade on an astonishing fourth day at Lord's with career-best figures of seven for 44 which fast-tracked England to victory and a 1-0 lead in this two-match series with more than four sessions to spare.
New Zealand must have thought Southee (six for 50) had given them a chance of following up three draws on home soil two months ago against England, after their hosts had lost their last four wickets for 33 this morning and eight for 54 since they began to hit trouble last night.
However, the tourists' recent fragilities returned – they were blasted out for 45 at the start of this year by South Africa's world-beating pace attack in Cape Town – as Broad made the most of conditions which have favoured swing throughout here.
Broad's sensational day began with some valuable late-order batting, helping England to 213 all out – and then by lunch he had almost single-handedly reduced the tourists to 29 for six in pursuit of what had at first seemed a perfectly feasible, if taxing, 239 to win.
BJ Watling, batting in pain after injuring a knee on Saturday, and Neil Wagner rescued a little respectability – and took New Zealand clear of ground and country low-scoring records at least, but there was to be no remarkable recovery to extend the contest significantly as only Broad and James Anderson were required to bowl for England in an innings which lasted less than two hours.
England captain Alastair Cook lauded their exemplary new-ball bowling, saying: "That hour Jimmy and Broady bowled there was as good as any bowling I've seen in an opening spell."
As for Broad, who has a knack of turning matches with outstanding spells, Cook is just grateful to have him in his armoury.
"Obviously, he's done it on numerous occasions now. Anyone who bowls at high-80s [miles per hour], from six foot five or six, and bangs a good length – and it's swinging – it's going to be very hard. I know as an opener, if you're challenging off-stump enough – like he does – it's hard work."
It was Broad, then, who finished as man-of-the-match after a contest which had also seen Tim Southee put his name on the honours board with a 10-wicket haul and Anderson become only the fourth Englishman to pass 300 Test victims.
"I don't think I've experienced a game that ebbed and flowed quite as much as that," added Cook. "There were times when we got ourselves in a good position, then New Zealand would come fighting back strongly."
Broad made the most of another cloudy morning at HQ, where the ball swung throughout the three-and-a-half days required. Asked if he rated it his best spell, he said: "I think so, yes. As Cookie mentioned, there were a few nerves around this morning. Both sides would have come to the ground, knowing they had a chance to win the game."
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