Williamson masterclass leaves NZ in command

Ah, the grandest traditions of a New Zealand summer.

Lazying on a beach under the shade of a pohutukawa tree, the Christmas barbecue lunch followed by a Kane Williamson batting masterclass at Seddon Park over the past two days.

The Black Caps captain delivered what has become expected of him yesterday in Hamilton when he guided his troops to a position of power in the first test against the West Indies. Williamson made his highest test score of 251, surpassing his previous best of 242 not out against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in 2015.

He batted with all the composure and elegance expected of New Zealand’s greatest test batsman, occupying the crease for more than a day’s play, facing 412 balls and striking 34 fours and two sixes.

Soon after his dismissal – and after Kyle Jamieson notched his maiden test half-century – Williamson declared his side’s first innings at 519-7. West Indies was ... without loss at stumps.

Such is Williamson’s control over his batting that it could even cause frustration for his partners at the other end, struggling manfully to overcome a demanding attack from the visitors – if they didn’t have the comfort of the benefits their captain’s excellence was contributing to the success of the side.

While Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell and Daryl Mitchell succumbed, their captain batted imperturbably for more than five sessions.

Williamson’s attributes are multitude and obvious for all to see. He plays at deliveries only when it’s demanded of him, or when he knows he can profit from an opportunity to accumulate runs.

His penchant for playing defensive shots with soft hands often means on the rare occasions when he is beaten by movement through the air or off the pitch, the resulting edge does not carry to the field.

Capable of scoring to all parts of the ground, the 30-year-old waited until yesterday afternoon – 80 minutes after bringing up his century – to unleash the first pull shot

NEW ZEALAND

First innings

T Latham b Roach ................................. 86 W Young lbw b Gabriel .......................... 5 K Williamson c Chase b Joseph .... 251 R Taylor c Brooks b Gabriel ............... 38 H Nicholls c Holder b Roach ............... 7 T Blundell lbw b Gabriel ...................... 14 D Mitchell c Holder b Roach .............. 9 K Jamieson not out ................................ 51 T Southee not out .................................... 11 Extras (11b, 23lb, 1w, 12nb) .................. 47 Total (for 7 wkts dec, 145 overs) .. 519 Fall: Young (14), Latham (168), 251 (Taylor), 281 (Nicholls), 353 (Blundell), 409 (Mitchell), 503 (Williamson). Bowling: K Roach 30-7-114-3 (3nb), S Gabriel 25-6-89-3 (8nb), J Holder 31-12-60-0 (1nb), A Joseph 31-8-99-1 (1w), R Chase 25-0-109-0, K Brathwaite 3-0-14-0.

of his innings, such was the discipline applied to his trade.

Such was his utter superiority that the rare blemishes – a top-edged cut over the slips cordon off Kemar Roach when on 180 – are more unexpected than a politician’s apology.

However he had once major slice of luck, with a dramatic let-off before tea. Having posted his double century from 369 balls in 554 minutes, he went on the offensive and hit two fours and a six from consecutive balls from Kemar Roach.

He then edged the next ball from Roach to stand-in wicketkeeper Shamarh Brooks.

Williamson began to walk off but the television umpire intervened and called no-ball, indicating Roach had over-stepped and allowing Williamson a reprieve.

Roach was also immensely unlucky. He had been by far the best of the West Indies bowlers in the match, the one who troubled Williamson most often, but he was denied New Zealand’s most-prized wicket.Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach and Jason Holder were all dogged in trying to remove New Zealand’s mainstay and much improved on their initial efforts on Thursday.

The visitors also had to replace wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich with Brooks at the start of day two due to an injured hand while batsman Darren Bravo was receiving treatment for the Achilles tendon injury he suffered late in the field on day one.