WILLIAMSON HITS RECORD TON
Auckland, March 23: Kane Williamson’s New Zealandrecord 18th Test century brightened an otherwise wet and gloomy day two as the hosts tightened their grip on the first Test against England on Friday.
Williamson’s 102 provided a rare moment of cheer on a truncated day when play was restricted to 23.1 overs with only 54 runs scored.
The Black Caps skipper fell after guiding his side to a substantial first innings lead as New Zealand reached 229/ 4, 171 runs ahead of England with six wickets in hand.
The milestone century, reached with a deft single through the gully off James Anderson, took Williamson one clear of the previous record of 17 he shared with Ross Taylor and the late Martin Crowe.
He was still on 100 when the rain swept in for the first time but when play resumed an hour later, after a revised tea break, he added only two more before being trapped in front by Anderson.
Williamson’s overnight partner Henry Nicholls progressed to 49 not out with BJ Watling on 17 when rain again sent the players indoors — midway through the second session of the day- night Test.
It never stopped long enough for the game to resume and play was called off four hours later.
Williamson had rebuilt the New Zealand innings from one for eight in their reply to England’s 58, to 206 for four when he was eventually dismissed.
He faced 220 deliveries and shared in partnerships of 84 with Tom Latham, 31 with Ross Taylor and 83 with Nicholls.
Nicholls, who started the New Zealand summer needing strong performances to cement his place as the number six batsman, stepped up from his preChristmas form when he had innings of 67, 13 and five against the West Indies.
After resuming the day on 24, he batted calmly with Williamson and then assumed the anchor role when the captain departed and he
Watling.
Watling, back in the side after being sidelined by a was joined by hip injury for several months, wasted no time settling in as he raced to 17 off 20 deliveries. England ( 1st innings) 58. New Zealand ( 1st innings, o/ n 175/ 3): J. Raval c Bairstow b Anderson 3, T. Latham c Woakes b Broad 26, K. Williamson lbw Anderson 102, R. Taylor c Woakes b Anderson 20, H. Nicholls ( battting) 49, B. Watling ( batting) 17. Extras: ( lb7, w5) 12. Total: ( for 4 wkts, in 92.1 overs) 229.
FoW:
206.
Bowling: Anderson 20- 753- 3, Broad 20- 5- 37- 1, Overton 18- 7- 43- 0, Woakes 23- 8- 55- 0 ( 5w), Ali 11.1- 1- 34- 0. 1- 8, 2- 92, 3- 123, 4-