England defeated New Zealand by 115 runs in the first Test at Lord’s. The result gave England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. It also brought major changes in the Test Championship points table.
The match was heavily dominated by bowlers. Both teams struggled on a difficult Lord’s pitch. England were all out for 140 in the first innings. New Zealand replied with only 113 runs.
In the second innings, England scored 226 runs. This set a target of 254 runs for New Zealand. The visitors again collapsed under pressure. They were bowled out for 138 runs.
Gus Atkinson played a key role in England’s win. He took 5 wickets for 30 runs in the second innings. His performance helped shift momentum in the match. The result strengthened England’s position in the Test Championship standings.
England moved to 50 points after this victory. However, they remained in seventh place. Their points percentage stands at 37.88.
New Zealand dropped to fourth position after the defeat. It was their first loss in the current Test Championship cycle. They now have 28 points from four matches.
Australia continue to lead the Test Championship table. They have 84 points with a strong points percentage of 87.50. South Africa are second with 36 points and 75.00 percentage.
Sri Lanka sit in third place with 16 points. New Zealand and Bangladesh are close behind in fourth and fifth positions. India remain in sixth place with 52 points.
Pakistan are placed eighth with only four points. They have won one match and lost three. West Indies are at the bottom of the table.
The match at Lord’s has added fresh competition to the Test Championship race. Teams are now focusing on improving consistency. Every win is becoming crucial in the long tournament cycle.
In other news read more about Pakistan Beat Australia By 4 wickets To Clinch ODI Series 2-1
ICC World Test Championship Points Table
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Points | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 84 | 87.50 |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 75.00 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 58.33 |
| 5 | Bangladesh | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 58.33 |
| 6 | India | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 48.15 |
| 7 | England | 11 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 50 | 37.88 |
| 8 | Pakistan | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 8.33 |
| 9 | West Indies | 8 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 4.17 |
