New Zealand vs West Indies: Kane Williamson scores career best 251
Resuming at at his overnight score of 97, Williamson clipped a single and then reached his first milestone of the day, his 22nd century, with a signature shot, rising up on his toes to punch a short ball from Kemar Roach to the boundary wide of point.
The 30-year-old already holds the record for the most number of Test hundreds by a Kiwi batsman with Ross Taylor (19) second in the list.
Kane Williamson, Tom Latham shine as Kiwis keep WI at bay on Day 1
He also brought up his double century with a boundary from Roach, a fluent cover drive which was another of the characteristic shots that peppered his innings. His 200 included 30 fours or 120 runs from boundaries.
The West Indies might have been having a good day at Seddon Park, if it had not been for Williamson, who stood almost single-handed against them.
The tourists picked up the wickets of Taylor (38), Henry Nicholls (7), Tom Blundell (14) and Daryl Mitchell (9) in the first two sessions with a bowling performance much improved on the first day when they won the toss and fielded.
But Williamson was an impregnable barrier to their effort to bring more balance to the match methodically to register the highest score of his Test career before being caught by Roston chase of Alzarri Joseph’s bowling for a monumental 251.
His previous best was the 242 that he had made against Sri Lanka at Wellington in 2015.
Williamson had a dramatic let-off in the hour before tea. Having posted his double century from 369 balls in 554 minutes in a feat of concentration, technique and application, he went on the offensive and hit two fours and a six from consecutive balls from Roach.
He then edged the next ball from Roach to stand-in wicketkeeper Sharmarh Brooks.
Williamson began to walk from the ground but the television umpire intervened and called no-ball, indicating Roach had over-stepped and allowing Williamson a dramatic reprieve.
He had partnerships of 154 with Tom Latham for the second wicket and 83 with Taylor for the third.
Every element of his continuing innings bespoke Williamson’s extraordinary talent and nature. Most batsmen would have fretted to be just short of a century at stumps in a Test match, likely would have slept uneasily that night.
Williamson showed no signs of concern, actually exuded calm as stumps approached on the first day and found him still short of a century.
He resumed on the second day as if his innings had not been interrupted by a long night of anticipation. Williamson was still poised at the crease, relaxed and fully in command. Partners came and went, most relatively quickly, but Williamson remained impeturbable and immoveable.
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