WELLINGTON : New Zealand’s Kane Williamson ground his way to a ninth test century as he combined with BJ Watling to thwart Sri Lanka’s push for victory at lunch on the fourth day of the second test at the Basin Reserve today. Williamson was on 121 and sharing in an unbroken 166-run partnership with Watling (76) as the hosts reached 325 for five, a lead of 190 runs which is starting to look competitive.
Sri Lanka must win the game to level the two-match series after losing the first test in Christchurch by eight wickets.
The hosts had resumed on 253 for five today, with a lead of 118 runs and the game firmly in Sri Lanka’s favour, particularly if they could break the partnership early and expose New Zealand’s tail.
However, Williamson and Watling patiently ticked off singles and rotated the strike, with the latter bringing up his ninth test half century with two runs clipped off his pads before he brought up their 100-run partnership two balls later with a deflected single past gully. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews then adopted defensive field placings, at one stage he had no slips to his pace bowlers, as he appeared to be waiting for something to happen rather than pushing for a breakthrough. Williamson hit Rangana Herath for the first boundary of the day to move to 99 before bringing up his century in the next over with a quick single from Dhammika Prasad. Herath did create one chance when Williamson was on 104, the batsman nicking the ball to Prasanna Jayawardene but the wicketkeeper spilled the opportunity. It was the third time Williamson had been dropped in his innings after close calls on 29 and 60. Sri Lanka had put the hosts on the back foot with three wickets before lunch yesterday and then seized control when they reduced them to 159 for five, with the home side holding a 24-run lead and their last recognised pair at the crease. (AGENCIES)
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