Dec. 4, 2020, 9:33 a.m.
Openers John Campbell and Kraigg Brathwaite batted purposefully for two hours from New Zealand’s seamers to hand West Indies a solid start, after Kane Williamson’s third career double hundred on Friday.
At the close of the second day, West Indies were 49-0, with the left-handed Campbell unbeaten on 22 and Brathwaite on 20, neither providing a chance in 26 overs in the final session at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
Campbell has so far faced 68 balls and struck a four and a six – the latter a superbly timed pull off Tim Southee early in his innings. Brathwaite, who entered the game in form with a monumental 246 last week — has hit a single boundary in his 89-ball stay.
Their resolve was all the more important against the backdrop of Williamson’s career-best 251 which propelled the Black Caps to 519-7, before he declared about half-hour after tea.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
Resuming the day on 97 with the hosts on 243-2, Williamson produced a masterclass spanning 412 balls in just under 10-½ hours, and which included 34 fours and two sixes. He reached his 22nd Test hundred in the day’s third over with a boundary to cover off seamer Kemar Roach and was unbeaten on lunch on 168 with New Zealand on 346-4.
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Williamson then brought up his double hundred in the first over after the first drinks break with a cover-driven four off Roach before passing 250 with an audacious pull over mid-wicket off pacer Alzarri Joseph. He fell to the very next delivery attempting the same shot but found the safe hands of Roston Chase on the rope at deep mid-wicket.
Williamson had lost overnight partner Ross Taylor in the day’s second over after the veteran right-hander added only seven to his 31. He was the second wicket for pacer Shannon Gabriel — well caught behind by Shamarh Brooks, who did an excellent as substitute for Shane Dowrich who has a hand injury.
Speedster Shannon Gabriel (3-89) and Roach (3-114) both finished with three wickets apiece. Roach’s effort took him to 204 wickets in his career. He moved ahead of the great Sir Andy Roberts (202) on the West Indies all-time list.
-CWI
