AFP, London

Gus Atkinson’s love-affair with Lord’s continued Sunday as England overwhelmed New Zealand by 115 runs to win the first Test.

New Zealand, set 254 to win, were dismissed for 138 before lunch on the fourth day in the 150th Test staged at Lord’s -- the most at any ground.

Surrey paceman Atkinson took 5-30 -- his fourth five-wicket innings haul in three Tests at Lord’s -- as England went 1-0 up in a three-match series.

But fellow seamer Ollie Robinson was named player-of-the-match after marking his first Test in over two years with seven wickets in the match -- including a Test-best haul of 5-39, featuring a rare triple-wicket maiden, in New Zealand’s meagre first-innings 113.

“There was a time where I never thought I’d be back on a pitch with England so to get that win for the team is such a special feeling,” said Robinson at the presentation ceremony.

This was England’s first Test since a 4-1 series loss in Australia completed in January where they were critcised for an overly-attacking style that meant they failed to consolidate strong positions, with many questioning whether Brendon McCullum should remain as coach.

But McCullum told the BBC on Sunday: “Our execution with the ball was outstanding, our plans were great. With the bat, I thought we were brave at times and calculated at other times.

“Bravery can be misunderstood, it’s not always running down wicket and banging it into the stands, bravery is about being able to manipulate your stance at the crease, manufacture ones. I thought our boys did a good job with that.”