'Record-breaker' Kane Williamson bats Black Caps back into 2nd Test

Kane Williamson was officially and unofficially New Zealands best batsman on the fourth day of the second Test Monday as his 26th Test century allowed New Zealand to lead England by 257 runs after following onTom Blundell made 90 and was the last man out as New Zealands second innings ended at 483 less than an hour before stumpsUnder New Zealandborn head coach Brendon McCullum England already has pulled off its highest successful run chase in tests scoring 378 to beat India at Edgbaston last year This chase for 258 with more than 100 overs available would seem a walk in the park by comparisonTim Southee removed Zac Crawley 24 with a ball that cut back to hit off peg and at stumps England was 481 needing 210 from 103 overs on the last day to sweep the twomatch seriesThe odds still heavily favour the visitors but Williamson at least has given New Zealand hopeWhen he reached 29 on his way to 132 he became New Zealands highest runscorer in Tests overtaking his former teammate Ross Taylor who ended his career last year with 7682 runsAlso Read New Zealand 3255 leads England by 99 at lunch on Day 4 of 2nd TestAnd in batting for all of the fourth day in productive partnerships with Henry Nicholls Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell Williamson guided New Zealand from a 226 run deficit when England enforced the followon Sunday to a respectable leadI dont sort of think too much about recordsiquest Williamson said iquestIts all about the team and the position youre in and trying to do moreIt was nice to be part of some partnerships today and get a pretty good second innings effort on the board Having said that you always want more and we were hoping for a few more in terms of the position we got ourselves into But all to play for tomorrowAfter making only 10 runs in his previous three innings in the series Williamson showed why he is New Zealands best batsman when the chips are down The match was in the balance at the start of the day New Zealand was 2023 still 24 runs behind England who just had taken the second new ballWilliamson and Nicholls 29 erased the deficit by the ninth over and saw off the new ball in a partnership of 55 for the fourth wicketDaryl Mitchell came in after Nicholls when Williamson was 34 and rushed past Williamson to a half century from 52 balls Williamson reached his own half century soon after from 148 deliveries and in just over four hours reflecting the extent of his patience and applicationMitchell was out for 54 in a 75run partnership with Williamson at the end of which New Zealands lead was 71 Them came Tom Blundell the first test centurymaker who provided Williamson with the extended support he needed to gradually improve New Zealands positionWilliamson had batted for 712 hours when England having explored every reasonable means of removing him gave Harry Brook his first bowl in test cricket Brooks bowling style officially is described as rightarm medium In reality it might be called dribbly medium paceBut it was Brook who finally ended Williamsons innings and claimed a first test wicket which will give him bragging rights for years to comeThe decisive ball was gentle and unthreatening pitching short and heading down leg side Williamson closed up his guard to glance behind square and the ball glanced across the bat en route to wicketkeeper Ben FoakesEnglands appeal for the catch behind was rejected The tourists reviewed the call and the replay showed the faintest of edges as England erupted in celebrationWhen Williamson was out New Zealands resistance was broken and the end came quickly Michael Bracewell paid the price for casual running between wickets and Jack Leach dismissed Tim Southee and Matt Henry in the same overLeach also ended Blundells fourhour innings but by that stage including the first innings England had been in the field for more than 215 oversThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever