Williamson hits Test-best 251 to put WI under pressure

Williamson hits Test-best 251 to put WI under pressure

HAMILTON: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson hit the highest Test score of his career on Friday with a majestic 251 as the hosts posted an imposing 519 for seven declared on day two of the first Test against the West Indies in Hamilton.

In reply, the injury-hit West Indies were 49 without loss with John Campbell on 22 and Kraigg Brathwaite on 20 after cautiously negotiating the 26 overs to stumps at Seddon Park.

After two months playing in the same Indian Premier League team as West Indies skipper Jason Holder, Williamson, 30, slipped seamlessly back into the strict demands of the red-ball game.

He was thrust into the Test after five overs and over the next 10 hours and 24 minutes he faced 412 deliveries, caressing the ball to all points as he picked the deliveries that needed to be played and rarely touched anything else.

Williamson’s third double century, eclipsing his unbeaten 242 against Sri Lanka nearly six years ago, included 34 fours and two sixes. It extended his New Zealand record to 22 Test centuries — three more than current team-mate and former skipper Ross Taylor.

“It wasn’t really at the forefront of my mind,” the master batsman said, when asked about achieving his highest Test score. “You just want to keep going and try to get yourself and the team in a position of strength, and getting to 240 the job wasn’t done.”

West Indies fast bowler Roach praised Williamson’s ‘fantastic’ innings but said the West Indies remained confident.

“Kane’s obviously the main person for them, and kudos to him, it was a fantastic innings, one of the best I’ve seen,” Roach said. “But, take away Kane’s innings and we were in at the other batsmen and didn’t let the other batsmen settle as long.

“To survive this evening definitely shows a lot of confidence in the team and we will take more confidence into day three.”

The first signs that Williamson was thinking of declaring came when he sharply lifted the scoring rate after passing 200.

His next 51 came off 42 deliveries. In one Roach over he smacked two fours and a six before being given out on 222, caught behind, only to be recalled when replays showed the delivery was a no-ball.

It was Alzarri Joseph who finally removed the New Zealand talisman with his sole wicket of the innings, a short delivery that Williamson mistimed and was caught at mid-wicket by Roston Chase.

He walked off to a standing ovation and with the West Indies players rushing over to congratulate him on a masterful performance.

Three overs later, once Kyle Jamieson reached his half-century, Williamson declared.

The tall Jamieson, with his unbeaten 51, is proving a solid performer in his third Test outing and was the only other batsman to add significantly to the New Zealand total on day two.

Taylor, who was 31 not out overnight, could only add seven before he was caught behind by Shamarh Brooks who took over the gloves from the injured Shane Dowrich.

Henry Nicholls’ low-scoring streak continued when he went for seven, extending his run without a half-century to 13 innings.

Tom Blundell supported Williamson for more than 90 minutes but made only 14, while Daryl Mitchell could only add nine with Tim Southee not out for 11 at the close.

For the West Indies, Gabriel took three for 89, Kemar Roach took three for 114 and Joseph one for 99.

Usual first drop Darren Bravo did not field Friday because of an Achilles heel strain and is expected to bat down the order at seven, while regular wicket-keeper Dowrich did not take part on day two because of a hand injury and may not bat at all.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings, overnight 243-2):

T.W.M. Latham b Roach 86

W.A. Young b Gabriel 5

K.S. Williamson c Chase b Joseph 251

L.R.P.L. Taylor c Brooks b Gabriel 38

H.M. Nicholls c Holder b Roach 7

T.A. Blundell lbw b Gabriel 14

D.J. Mitchell c Holder b Roach 9

K.A. Jamieson not out 51

T.G. Southee not out 11

EXTRAS (B-11, LB-23, W-1, NB-12) 47

TOTAL (for seven wkts decl, 145 overs) 519

FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-168, 3-251, 4-281, 5-353, 6-409, 7-503.

DID NOT BAT: N. Wagner, T.A. Boult.

BOWLING: Roach 30-7-114-3 (3nb); Gabriel, 25-6-89-3 (8nb); Holder 31-12-60-0 (1nb); Joseph 31-8-99-1 (1w); Chase 25-0-109-0; Brathwaite 3-0-14-0.

WEST INDIES (1st Innings):

K.C. Brathwaite not out 20

J.D. Campbell not out 22

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, W-1, NB-1) 7

TOTAL (for no wkt, 26 overs) 49

TO BAT: R.L. Chase, S.S.J. Brooks, J. Blackwood, S.O. Dowrich, D.M. Bravo, J.O. Holder, K.A.J. Roach, A.S. Joseph, S.T. Gabriel.

BOWLING (to-date): Southee 9-3-20-0;

Boult 5-1-6-0 (1w); Jamieson 6-2-7-0; Wagner 6-1-11-0 (1nb).

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2020

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