The first Test of the English summer ended in a draw against New Zealand with England not really showing any intent to chase the target set by the tourists.
England needed 273 runs from the final session to win the match but seemingly were happy for the draw which it eventually petered out into.
New Zealand resumed from their overnight score of 62-2 knowing they had to be wise with how long they wanted to bat for to ensure a result was possible.
Ollie Robinson continued his impressive debut as he removed the night watchman Neil Wagner – who launched the delivery straight up in the air and was caught by James Bracey.
Stuart Broad, who had endured a somewhat quiet match thus far, finally claimed his first wicket of the Test as he trapped Tom Latham for lbw.
Latham reviewed the decision, but to no avail and New Zealand were 105-4.
Ross Taylor was next to go for a well-made 33 as he edged behind to Bracey off the bowling of Mark Wood.
The part-time off-spin of Joe Root then came into effect as Henry Nicholls attempted to reverse sweep him and was dismissed after centurion Rory Burns pulled off an impressive grab.
BJ Watling and Colin De Grandhomme then upped the aggression and started to attack to get New Zealand to 169-6, and a lead of 272, before a slight shower forced the players off for an early lunch break.
New Zealand then confirmed their declaration at the end of the break meaning England had 75 overs to get the 273-run needed for victory or for New Zealand to bowl the hosts out.
New Zealand made an eventual and deserved breakthrough as Burns could not repeat his first-innings heroics and edged Wagner’s delivery to Tim Southee.
Zak Crawley scored just two this time, capping off a disappointing match for the Kent batsman, as he edged to Henry Nicholls at gully – and in the process becoming Southee’s seventh wicket of the match.
With that wicket England went in at the tea break 56-2, still requiring another 217 runs from the final session: 43 scheduled overs.
Root was looking in good nick in the final session as he made a handy 40 before he was hit on the pads by Wagner and was dismissed.
By this point England knew that any slim chances of a win were all but gone, with them not showing any real intent to chase from the off.
A Dom Sibley half century gave the fans inside Lord’s something to cheer about, before both captains shook hands with five remaining overs to confirm the match as a draw, with England 170-3.
In a match where the washout of day three effectively meant there would be no result, the attention now turns to a decider at Edgbaston next week.
Devon Conway unsurprisingly was given man of the match for his stunning first innings double century, while his compatriot Southee finished with impressive bowling figures of 7-73.
The second and deciding Test of the series from Edgbaston begins on Thursday June 10, with coverage starting from 10am on Sky Sports Cricket.
By Josh Mann
