Kane Williamson hammered a classy century in an unbroken 215-run stand with Henry Nicholls to put New Zealand into a strong position at 286/3 at stumps on day two of the second Test against Pakistan on Monday.
New Zealand, having recovered from 71/3 in Christchurch, ended the day trailing Pakistan’s first innings 297 by just 11 runs with seven wickets in hand.
Williamson, newly installed as the world’s No 1 Test batsman, was unbeaten on 112, his 24th century, with Nicholls on 89.
It was Williamson’s third century in as many Tests in the past month, although fortune was on his side.
Late in the day, he was dropped twice and survived a run out when the bail had only partially dislodged in the split second it took to get his bat across the crease.
Pakistan, without a win in 10 away Tests since 2018, would have felt their luck was changing when New Zealand slumped from 52 without loss to 71/3 when Ross Taylor departed in the fifth over after lunch.
It could have been 74/4 when Nicholls was given out early, caught behind for three, only for the dismissal to be reversed by the TV umpire who detected Shaheen Afridi’s delivery was a no ball.
New Zealand started their innings on a positive note with openers Tom Latham and Tom Blundell sharing a 52-run stand.
Pakistan were bowled out for 297 in the first innings. Kyle Jamieson took a five wicket haul.
