New Zealand's star batter Kane Williamson made a remarkable return from injury in the first Test against England, scoring a composed 93 before being dismissed in a frustrating fashion. Williamson's innings laid the foundation for New Zealand's total of 319/8 at the end of Day 1 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

After England won the toss and opted to bowl first on a green pitch, the visitors quickly made inroads, dismissing Devon Conway in just the second over. Despite the early setback, New Zealand's innings gained momentum through key partnerships, with Williamson at the helm.

Williamson shared crucial stands with Tom Latham (47), Rachin Ravindra (34), and Daryl Mitchell (34), guiding the hosts to 193/3 before a collapse saw them lose five wickets after tea.

The most significant blow came when Williamson, looking well-set for a century, was dismissed in the 61st over in the inning bowled by pacer Gus Atkinson. He offered enough width for Williamson to attempt a cut shot, but the extra bounce caught him off guard. The ball went straight to Zak Crawley at the point, who took a sharp catch, leaving Williamson frustrated as he walked off the field.

Watch The Video Here ⬇️⬇️ 

This dismissal marked the first time in six years that Williamson failed to convert a score of 90 or more into a century.

By the close of play on Thursday, November 28, New Zealand had reached 319/8. Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 41, while Tim Southee—who is playing his final series—was on 10. Shoaib Bashir was England's standout bowler, taking 4-69, while New Zealand's middle-order struggled after Williamson's departure.