England batted slowly and carefully Sunday to hold out against New Zealand on the final day of the first test at Lord's.
After England had advanced to 170-3 in 70 overs in its second innings, a draw was agreed in the two-test series opener.
England captain Joe Root defended the decision not to chase the victory target of 273 after New Zealand earlier declared its second innings at 169-6.
England's Joe Root plays a shot for four off the bowling of New Zealand's Mitchell Santner during the fifth day of the Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP PhotoKirsty Wigglesworth)
“If you look at the conditions, the surface, it was very challenging. It was slow, hard to time the ball, hard to get any sort of rhythm when you’re batting out there," Root told the BBC.
“Initially we set out to have quite an open mind, see where we got to after a 15-20-over period. It got to a stage where it didn’t feel like it was quite possible to take that on."
New Zealand scored 378 in its first innings after winning the toss, and England replied with 275.
Clouds in the sky during the fifth day of the Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP PhotoKirsty Wigglesworth)
The second test starts Thursday at Edgbaston.
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England's Zak Crawley leaves the pitch after he is caught by New Zealand's Henry Nicholls off the bowling of New Zealand's Tim Southee during the fifth day of the Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP PhotoKirsty Wigglesworth)
New Zealand's Neil Wagner appeals during the fifth day of the Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, Sunday, June 6, 2021. (AP PhotoKirsty Wigglesworth)