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23-Mar-2018 08:15:00 GMT
NZ v Eng, 1st Test, Auckland, day 2

Williamson hits record ton as NZ extend lead

New Zealand 229 for 4 (Williamson 102, Nicholls 49*, Anderson 3-53) lead England 58 (Boult 6-32, Southee 4-25) by 171 runs

Auckland: Kane Williamson posted a New Zealand record 18th century then passed the helm to Henry Nicholls as the Black Caps built a substantial lead over England on a rain-marred day two of the first Test on Friday.

When a downpour sent the players from the field midway through the second session in Auckland, New Zealand were 229 for four, 171 ahead of England and with six wickets in hand.

Williamson fell for 102 soon after the first rain interval, having lifted New Zealand out of an awful start when they were eight for one in the day-night Test.

Nicholls, who resumed the day on 24, had advanced to 49 when rain stopped play for the second time, 68 minutes into the middle session, with BJ Watling on 17.

Williamson reached his milestone century, one more than Ross Taylor and the late Martin Crowe, with a deft single through gully just before the first rain disruption brought an early tea adjournment.

When play resumed more than an hour later, he added only two further runs before being dismissed leg before.

James Anderson, the best of the England bowlers with three for 53, found swing with the second new ball and brought one back into Williamson who was trapped plumb in front of the sticks.

It brought a close to an excellent knock in which Williamson rebuilt the New Zealand innings after they were one for eight in reply to England's 58.

He faced 220 deliveries to bat New Zealand into a position of dominance with partnerships of 84 with Tom Latham, 31 with Ross Taylor and 83 with Nicholls.

Nicholls, who started the New Zealand summer needing strong performances to cement his place as the number six batsman, stepped up from his pre-Christmas form when he had innings of 67, 13 and five against the West Indies.


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