New Zealand take lead past 500 as Williamson scores another ton

Kane Williamson scored his second century of the opening Test against South Africa at Mount Maunganui as New Zealand’s lead soared past 500 at stumps on Day 3. The home side’s urge to keep piling on the runs meant they didn’t enforce follow-on after bundling out South Africa for just 162 in the first innings. They then finished the day on 179 for 4, with Williamson getting 109 of those.

The day began with South Africa on 80 for 4, trailing massively after New Zealand amassed 511 in the first innings. For the addition of 47 runs they lost three wickets in the morning session, even as Keegan Petersen played defiantly. That however, was broken through in the post-Lunch session by New Zealand’s double-centurion Rachin Ravindra. Petersen went after a ball that turned away from him and took a leading edge down the ground. Not for the first time in the game, Williamson combined with Ravindra as he ran back from mid-on to complete the catch. From 152 for 8, South Africa were bowled out for the addition of 10 more runs, well short of the home side’s total.

New Zealand however decided to bat again. Once again South Africa had a promising start with the ball as Dane Peterson got one length ball to tail back into Tom Latham and trapped him leg before. Devon Conway and Williamson added a fluent 92-run stand. Much to South Africa’s misery, Williamson got a reprieve in the second innings too when Edward Moore dropped a sitter at deep midwicket. He however, got instant redemption by pouching a blinder in just the next over, when he ran in and completed the catch just inches off the ground.

Just when it looked like a Williamson-Ravindra alliance would haunt South Africa again, Ruan de Swardt had the latter caught at short cover for just 12 runs. Williamson however, carried on  rather briskly to bring up his 31st Test century. Neil Brand, who picked six wickets in the first innings, sent his opposite number packing on 109 with a flighted delivery on leg stump which Williamson gave the charge to and missed. He was well short of his ground when he was stumped, walking back to a big round of applause from the stands. Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell took New Zealand to stumps with a lead of 528 runs.

Brief Scores:
New Zealand 511 (Rachin Ravindra 240, Kane Williamson 118; Neil Brand 6-119) and  179/4 (Kane Williamson 109; Neil Brand 2-52) lead  South Africa 162 (Keegan Petersen 45, David Bedingham 32; Matt Henry 3-31, Mitchell Santner 3-34, Rachin Ravindra 2-16, Kyle Jamieson 2-35) by 528 runs