Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson notched up his 26th Test century off 226 balls with eight fours on Day 4 of the second Test towards England in Wellington on Monday (February 27). Williamson, who turned New Zealand’s highest run-getter in T20 cricket on the day, saved the Black Caps in hunt for a series-levelling win after following on Day 3 of the Test.
Williamson’s ‘back-to-the-wall’ knock and his century partnership for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell powered the NZ result in 197 runs at Tea on Day 4 of the Test. The former Kiwi skipper is batting on 113 off 242 balls with 10 fours whereas Blundell, who scored a tremendous century within the first Test, is on 62 off 106 balls with eight boundaries.
The Williamson-Blundell partnership have placed on 126 runs thus far for the sixth wickets after all-rounder Daryl Mitchell was dismissed for a run-a-ball 54 on Day 4.
WATCH Kane Williamson attain his 26th Test century right here…
Kane Williamson brings up his 26th Test Century _
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Williamson turned New Zealand’s main run-scorer in checks and continued to marshal his group’s resistance Monday on the fourth morning of the second Test towards England. Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor was one of many first ones to congratulate Williamson.
Congratulations Kane for turning into NZ’s highest Test run-scorer. This achievement is a testomony to your exhausting work and dedication to Test Cricket, of which I used to be aware about for numerous years. Here’s to many extra _
— Ross Taylor (@RossLTaylor) February 26, 2023
At lunch New Zealand was 325-5 and led England by 99 runs after following on 226 runs behind. Williamson was 63 and Tom Blundell was 19. England dismissed New Zealand for 209 of their first innings in reply to their very own 435-9 declared and enforced the comply with earlier than lunch on the third day.
New Zealand resumed Monday at 202-3 and nonetheless 24 runs behind. With Williamson and Henry Nicholls on the crease, New Zealand wiped off the deficit with three wickets down within the ninth over of the day. Williamson and Nicholls had seen New Zealand by way of the final 90 minutes of the third day and continued Monday till their 55-run partnership ended when Nicholls (29) was caught at slip by Harry Brook off Ollie Robinson. New Zealand at that time was nonetheless 4 runs in deficit.
Williamson was 34 when joined by Daryl Mitchell, who raced previous him to succeed in a half century from 52 balls, mentioning 50 with a six from Jack Leach over long-on. Williamson’s thirty fourth Test half century got here up from 148 balls in after 2-1/2 hours on the crease in an innings of nice perseverance.
The fifth-wicket partnership was price 75 when Mitchell hit out as soon as too usually and skied the third brief supply of an over from Stuart Broad to Joe Root, who had been set for the hook. New Zealand led England by 71 runs at that time and Williamson remained the anchor of the innings.
In the primary over of the day, Williamson clipped a half volley from James Anderson off his toes to the mid-wicket boundary and overtook his former teammate Ross Taylor’s tally of seven,683 runs in Tests on the age of 32.
On the gamers’ balcony his teammates applauded and across the grassy banks of the Basin Reserve followers of each groups rose to acclaim the achievement. Williamson is taking part in his 92nd check and has grow to be New Zealand’s high run-scorer at a mean of 53.
