Eng vs NZ first Test | England ekes out slender lead against New Zealand

England were eventually dismissed for 141 in reply to New Zealand’s 132

Concussion substitute Matt Parkinson marked his Test debut by helping England into a narrow first-innings lead of nine runs on the second day of their series opener against New Zealand at Lord’s on Friday.

England were eventually dismissed for 141 in reply to New Zealand’s 132, with veteran quicks Tim Southee and Trent Boult polishing off the home side’s tail.

Southee took four wickets for 55 runs in 14 overs and left-armer Boult, who only arrived in England on Monday after playing in last weekend’s Indian Premier League final, three for 21 in 13.5.

Parkinson, who travelled down from Manchester on Thursday as England’s first concussion substitute after fellow spinner Jack Leach was injured fielding, walked out to bat with the hosts 130 for nine.

Parkinson got off the mark with a clipped two off Southee that took England into a first-innings lead.

The leg-spinner then played one of the best shots of the innings, driving Southee down the ground for four before he was last man out, caught in the slips off Boult.

England resumed on 116 for seven, still 16 runs behind, after an extraordinary start to all-rounder Ben Stokes’s reign as Test captain on the opening day of this three-match series.