ENG vs NZ Live Score, 1st Test 2026: Rain stops play; Emilio Gay departs cheaply on debut

Patience required - Shot-making is unlikely to get any easier as the ball loses its hardness. It is only a small sample size, but with just one over under his belt so far, Nathan Smith has already laid down a marker with the way he tested Jacob Bethell throughout a probing maiden. Fresh off an impressive outing in Ireland last week, the seamer looks to have a real spring in his step and could be one to watch out for throughout the series. The scheduled start time for the second session is 12.25 pm GMT, weather permitting. Until then, you can switch your attention to Lahore, where the series decider between Pakistan and Australia has just gotten underway. See you shortly.

Lunch on Day 1 - Just 10 overs were possible in the first session of the opening day of the English Test summer, but we hope for better fortunes going ahead. After what transpired here during last year's World Test Championship final and the England-India Test that followed, there was plenty of discussion around whether the surface would play any differently this time around. It did not take long for the answer to emerge, with the lack of pace and bounce evident from the very first ball. Ben Duckett shouldered arms as the ball barely got up and reached the keeper on the bounce.

11.30 am GMT -  We have some news. The match officials have decided to take the Lunch break at 11.45 am GMT, 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled break. With the rain showing little sign of easing, the officials have opted to bring forward the interval rather than wait for the scheduled lunch time.

11.07 am GMT - It continues to rain at Lord's, and it is quite a heavy downpour now. The radar does not make for particularly encouraging reading either, with plenty more rain expected through the afternoon. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but rain is forecast on all five days of the Test, with interruptions possible throughout the match. All we can do is hope for the best. 

Summarising the action so far - It still felt like both sides were feeling each other out before the rain arrived and brought play to a halt. After being asked to bat, England's batters have had to work hard for their runs, with the surface proving to be on the slower side. It was a brief stay for debutant Emilio Gay, who became Kyle Jamieson's first victim of the morning. The tall Kiwi took a few deliveries to find his radar, but once he did, he managed to prise out the left-hander. Usually one to take the game on, Ben Duckett has dialled back the aggression and adopted a more watchful approach, while Jacob Bethell has had a few plays and misses in his stay so far.

Rain Stoppage

10.45 am GMT - As the umpires gather on the adjacent strip to discuss the looming weather threat, the downpour suddenly intensifies. The officials quickly suspend play and signal for the players to leave the field, prompting the ground staff to rush out with the hover cover. Michael Atherton reckons we could be in for a significant delay, with this band of rain expected to linger for the next hour or two. He remains optimistic about play resuming later in the day once the worst of the weather has passed.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 24/1 (9.6 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Jacob Bethell, In the channel, on a length. Jacob lets it through to the keeper.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 24/1 (9.5 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Jacob Bethell, Nicely done. Jamieson bashes the hard length, over off. Bethell hops and gets on top of the bounce. He opens the bat face to beat the diving backward point fielder to his right and comes back for the second run.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 22/1 (9.4 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Serves it full, on off. A bit of away movement off the surface. Duckett gets on the front foot and drops it with soft hands in front of point for a quick single.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (9.3 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Taken but no bat involved. Bowled on a length, on middle. Duckett stays back to defend but the ball jags back in to beat him on the inside edge. It pings him on the thigh before it is taken at second slip by Kane Williamson.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (9.2 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Goes a bit fuller now, on off. Duckett pushes it to mid on.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (9.1 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Fractionally short, just outside off. Duckett stays leg side of the ball and taps the ball on its head as he plays it to backward point.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (8.6 overs)

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, End of a testing first over from Smith, a maiden. A bit fuller now, around off. Bethell shows the full face of the bat but the ball drops off the outer half beside the strip on the off side. Jacob is keen for a single but Nathan gets to the ball quickly and cuts it off.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (8.5 overs)

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, Smith hurls it on a good length, in the channel. Bethell presses forward and shoulders arms.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (8.4 overs)

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, Attacking the front pad, Jacob nudges this good-length ball to mid-wicket.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (8.3 overs)

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, At 135 kph, on a short of a length, on the off stump. It keeps a bit low but Bethell manages to chop it down towards gully.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (8.2 overs)

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, Fuller and angled in, on middle and leg. Bethell's head falls over a bit as he knocks it to mid on.

Nathan Smith has been introduced into the attack. 

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (8.1 overs)

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, Smith starts with a beauty! In that testing corridor of uncertainty. Wobble seam ball, on a length. Bethell pushes out in front but the ball moves away with the slope to beat the bat.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (7.6 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Back to bowling it full, on middle, Duckett blocks it off by getting his bat out in front.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (7.5 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Oh, that took off. This will put the seed of doubt in the minds of these two batters. For the most part, the ball has stayed relatively low so far, but this one has kicked up sharply. On a hard length, over off. This rears up as Ben tries to fend it down. It dribbles off the shoulder of the blade towards gully.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (7.4 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Keeps the stumps in play but this is on a good length. Duckett keeps it out from the crease.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (7.3 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Bowled by going wide on the crease, fuller and at the sticks. Duckett hangs low and defends it watchfully.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (7.2 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Nipping back in, on a slightly back of a length, on middle and leg. Duckett shapes up to turn it square on the leg side but is beaten on the inside edge and gets hit on the thigh pad.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 21/1 (7.1 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Serves it full, around off. Duckett leans into the drive nicely and plays it all along the ground through covers. Nathan Smith goes after it and cuts it off. Two runs taken.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 19/1 (6.6 overs)

Matt Henry to Jacob Bethell, Moving away off the deck, on a length. Jacob offers no shot.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 19/1 (6.5 overs)

Matt Henry to Jacob Bethell, Keeps it outside off, on a good length. Bethell makes the leave.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 19/1 (6.4 overs)

Matt Henry to Jacob Bethell, Fuller in length, on off. Bethell stabs it down on the off side.

As per Nasser Hussain on air, it has just started to rain a bit at the Lord's. But surprisingly, we can see the most amount of sunlight ever since the Test began.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 19/1 (6.3 overs)

Matt Henry to Jacob Bethell, Going away, on a good length. Bethell shoulders arms.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 19/1 (6.2 overs)

Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Nearly chopped it back onto the stumps! Just around the line of the off pole, on a nagging length. Duckett hangs back for the block but the ball jags back in to catch the inside edge. It catches Ben on the thigh before deflecting wide of square leg.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 18/1 (6.1 overs)

Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, This is on a length, across the off stump. Duckett tries to cover the line but the ball leaves him to catch the outer half and it dribbles to gully.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 18/1 (5.6 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Jacob Bethell, Beaten! Closer to the off stump, on the shorter side. Bethell has a slight poke at the delivery before withdrawing his bat. The ball goes away off the deck after pitching to beat Jacob on the outside edge.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 18/1 (5.5 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Jacob Bethell, Drags the length back, on off. Bethell gets on his toes and rides the bounce nicely. He punches it through covers but the ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence. It is hauled in by a couple of fielders giving chase. Jacob opens his account with a couple of runs.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 16/1 (5.4 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Jacob Bethell, Jamieson pushes the length up and finds a hint of away shape. Bethell resists the tempation of going for the drive and makes the leave.

First wicket in the 150th Test match at the Home of Cricket goes to Kyle Jamieson as he picks up the debutant, Emilio Gay. Jacob Bethell comes in at 3 for England. 

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 16/1 (5.3 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, OUT! CAUGHT! Kyle Jamieson gets his radar right, and more than anything, the edge carries to the slip cordon. Jamieson hurls it on a back of a length, angled in at the off stump. Emilio Gay gets on his toes and presents a straight bat for the block. The ball angles in before straightening off the deck to catch the outside edge. It dies on Daryl Mitchell at first slip but he gets down on a knee and gets his hands out in front to take the catch above the ground. England lose their first wicket for 16.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 16/0 (5.2 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, Dishes it out on a length, in the channel, Gay shoulders arms.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 16/0 (5.1 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Ben Duckett, Bowled full and wide on off, but Duckett can not cash in. This swings away a bit and Ben attempts the cover drive but one hand comes off the bat handle. It goes wide of cover and the batters cross over.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 15/0 (4.6 overs)

Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Cutting back in sharply off the surface, on a good length, on middle. Ben hurriedly nurdles it behind square leg and retains the strike with a single.

The sky overhead has darkened even more. Heavy clouds can be seen rapidly rolling in towards the ground. These conditions should further assist the pacers in the meantime.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 14/0 (4.5 overs)

Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Keeps it around the top of off pole. Ben taps it off the back foot to the right of the bowler.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 14/0 (4.4 overs)

Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Hits the top of off, does Henry, Duckett stays back and dabs it to backward point with an angled bat face.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 14/0 (4.3 overs)

Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Lands it on a good length, a bit too wide and Duckett offers no shot.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 14/0 (4.2 overs)

Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Going away and the length stays full, Duckett strides to the pitch of the ball but mistimes the drive towards mid off as the bat turns in his hand.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 14/0 (4.1 overs)

Matt Henry to Ben Duckett, Shaping back into the pads slightly, on a length. Duckett brings his wrists into play and works it to the right of deep fine leg for a couple of runs.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 12/0 (3.6 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, Edged, but it does not carry! Kyle brings the ball back into the left-hander, on a good length, on off and middle. Emilio walks across to make use of the angle and clip it away on the leg side with a closed bat face. He is squared up as the ball lands and straightens to graze the outside edge and it lands well in front of first slip.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 12/0 (3.5 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, At the stumps, on a good length. Emilio Gay brings his bat out in front and is solid in defence.

England vs New Zealand Live Score : 12/0 (3.4 overs)

Kyle Jamieson to Emilio Gay, That kept low. Bowled a bit into the surface, outside off. Emilio shapes up for the cut but the ball does not rise as much as the left-hander expected. Chops it down beside the strip on the off side off an inside edge.