New Zealand’s Kane Williamson celebrates 200 runs with teammate Henry Nicholls on day two of the second Test cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls made double centuries in a 363-run partnership for the third wicket as New Zealand amassed 580-4 earlier than declaring its first innings Saturday on the second day of the second cricket take a look at in opposition to Sri Lanka.
Williamson posted his sixth double century and was out for 215 and Nicholls introduced up his first and highest take a look at rating for New Zealand and was 200 not out when captain Tim Southee signaled the declaration.
It was the primary time two New Zealand batsmen had scored double centuries in the identical innings of a take a look at.
The partnership was the ninth-highest for the third wicket in all checks and New Zealand’s highest since Martin Crowe and Andre Jones made 467 in opposition to Sri Lanka within the Basin Reserve in 1991.
Williamson batted for 6-1/2 hours and Henry for one minute longer.
New Zealand resumed Saturday at 155-2 with Williamson 26 not out and Nicholls and 18. Williamson and Nicholls stayed collectively for a lot of the remainder of the day.
“It was great fun. The way Kane batted was brilliant and he just allowed me to do my thing,” Nicholls mentioned. “We had ebbs and flows throughout the day but as I said it was a fun day.
“I think we just wanted to bat as long as we can. I think when Kane got 100 he just flew to 130 and we kept feeding off each other. As the day went on we were able to up the tempo a bit and to get those two wickets was great heading into tomorrow.”
At stumps and after 17 overs, Sri Lanka was 26-2 with captain Dimuth Karunaratne 16 not out and nightwatchman Prabath Jayarsuriya 4 not out.
Oshada Fernando was out for 6, caught by Tom Blundell from the bowling of Matt Henry and Kusal Mendis was 4 when he was brilliantly caught at level by Devon Conway off Doug Bracewell who’s taking part in his first take a look at since 2016.
The first day on the Basin Reserve was darkish and gloomy. Only 48 overs have been doable between the rain-delayed begin and end hastened by dangerous gentle. The second day dawned vibrant and sunny and the pitch on the Basin Reserve, which was gentle and sluggish on the primary day, had change into agency and superb for batting.
Williamson scored an unbeaten 121 when New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by two wickets from the ultimate ball of the primary take a look at and 132 as New Zealand beat England by one run within the second take a look at on the Basin Reserve one month in the past.
Nicholls had gone 10 checks since he final handed 50: he made solely 2 and 20 within the first take a look at in opposition to Sri Lanka and 70 at 17 in 4 innings over two checks in opposition to England.
Through the day, Williamson and Henry constructed and constructed and constructed till New Zealand was in a safe to declare. Milestones handed steadily and at velocity.
Williamson reached 50 from 106 balls in 142 minutes and Nicholls’ half century got here from 79 balls in 145 minutes as he performed a subordinate position early on.
At 91 Williamson pased 8,000 runs in checks and his twenty eighth take a look at century got here in 231 minutes with 10 fours and two sixes. Nicholls adopted Williamson to a century from 173 balls in slightly below 5 hours.
The pair handed 150 for the third wicket, then 200, then 250 and 300 from solely 420 balls. Williamson reached 200 from 285 balls, in 460 minutes and the scoring price picked up because the day went on.
Eventually, it turned clear New Zealand was wanting to declare and the tempo stepped up. Williamson was out for 215, hitting out and caught at long-on. Daryl Mitchell got here and went and was out for 17 when New Zealand was 530-4.
Nicholls pressed on and reached his 200 from 249 balls and Southee signaled the declaration quickly after from the gamers’ balcony.
