LIVE BBC COVERAGE First Test, Lord's: England v New Zealand Listen live on BBC Radio 4 (198 LW) Five Live Sports Extra and this website BBC Test Match Special More photos

Contrasting innings from opener Mark Richardson and Jacob Oram put New Zealand in control of the first Test.

Richardson grafted through day over his 93 and Oram bashed an unbeaten 64 from 75 balls, taking the tourists to 284-5.

Richardson and Nathan Astle (64) shared a stand of 103 for the second wicket before three Black caps fell for 13.

But England's attack struggled to keep control. Andrew Flintoff was the best of the bowlers but Simon Jones had the best figures, with 2-54.

Richardson, whose stated aim at the start of the tour was to put his name on the Lord's honours board with a century, was desperately unlucky to be given out lbw to Harmison.

Replays clearly showed an inside edge onto his rear pad but umpire Darrell Hair raised his finger with three overs left in the day.

If England can bag a couple of early wickets, the game is back alive again From Andrew Hutchinson Have your say on TMS

Night-watchman Daryl Tuffey scored two off five balls before bad light took the players from the field.

Oram's innings mirrored that of Astle earlier in the day, and followed the attacking plan set by captain Stephen Fleming.

New Zealand made a brisk start after choosing to bat first with Fleming, in his new role as opener, to the fore.

Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison struggled with their lines early but Flintoff and Jones regained some control after the first hour.

After four successive maidens, Jones capitalised when a frustrated Fleming, on 34, cut to debutant Andrew Strauss at gully.

Jones enjoyed the best figures among England's bowlers

Astle, back after five Tests out recovering from knee surgery, struggled to reach lunch with a mess of plays and misses.

But he rediscovered success when the opening bowlers returned, cracking 11 boundaries.

He overtook opener Richardson, who was on 20 when Astle arrived and 44 when his new partner passed 50 from 58 balls.

Astle survived a chance on 60 when an edge off Flintoff flew between slip fielders Graham Thorpe and Mark Butcher, each of whom appeared to think the other would go for it.

But Flintoff gained the wicket a deserved wicket soon afterwards as Astle gave a thin edge behind.

Jones helped England capitalise by getting an edge off new batsman Scott Styris in the following over.

And Craig McMillan was becalmed after getting off the mark with a cover-driven boundary, falling lbw to Hoggard for six from the 39th delivery he had faced.

Oram quickly tipped the balance back to the Kiwis and he was particularly severe on spinner Ashley Giles, whose first five-over spell went for 32 runs.

By the close, the 6ft 6ins batsman had struck 10 boundaries, also punishing Jones late in the day.

England: M E Trescothick (capt), A J Strauss, M A Butcher, N Hussain, G P Thorpe, A Flintoff, G O Jones, A F Giles, M J Hoggard, S P Jones, S J Harmison.