Dinner: New Zealand 229 for 4 (Williamson 102, Nicholls 49*) lead England 58 by 171 runs
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Kane Williamson became New Zealand’s leading century maker in Tests, raising his bat for the 18th time in his career
New Zealand’s best Test batsman Kane Williamson brightened up a gloomy afternoon in Auckland with his 18th Test hundred, passing Martin Crowe and Ross Taylor to become the country’s leading century-maker. He eventually fell for 102 shortly after the tea break, lbw to James Anderson, England’s only wicket of the day. Rain, though, dominated the majority of the second day, allowing only 23.1 overs in the first two sessions.
Williamson’s century an emotional milestone for us @BLACKCAPS fans but one feels just a stepping stone for our greatest.
— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) March 23, 2018
Williamson reached the landmark with a trademark glide towards gully. In the company of Henry Nicholls, Williamson added 22 runs in 10 overs prior to heavy rain forcing an early tea break 40 minutes into the first session.
Under cloudy skies, Anderson found some movement with the new ball after the break. Williamson had shuffled too far across to get close to a prodigious inswinger from Anderson. An optimistic review didn’t save him.
Nicholls, at the other end, showed admirable patience and a tight defensive technique, repeatedly leaving balls outside off stump he didn’t need to play, and only venturing into an attacking shot if the bowlers erred in his areas.
BJ Watling, after missing the West Indies Tests due to a hip injury, struck three fours in his unbeaten 17, helping New Zealand stretch their significant first-innings advantage to 171 before another burst of rain wiped out the rest of the session.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo