Ton-up Williamson thwarts Proteas

Wellington, March 27 

Captain Kane Williamson equalled the New Zealand record for Test centuries as his side reached 321/4 at the close of Day 3 of the third Test against South Africa in Hamilton on Monday.

The 26-year-old joined former captain Martin Crowe on 17 Test centuries when he hit a full toss from Dean Elgar to the fence for his 10th boundary. Williamson had moved to 148 at stumps with Mitchell Santner on 13, the home side holding a seven run lead over South Africa’s first innings of 314.

Williamson also surpassed 5,000 Test runs, the fastest New Zealander to do so in his 110th innings. Just five other of his countrymen have reached the mark.

The skipper shared a 190-run partnership with opener Jeet Raval, who passed 50 for the fifth time and proved the perfect foil to the New Zealand skipper during a knock of 88.

The left-hander was dropped on 83 by South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and then got bogged down as he battled against the second new ball. He failed to score a run for 25 deliveries before hitting Kagiso Rabada for a boundary but he fell shortly after when wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock took a brilliant, diving catch with one hand from an inside edge off Morne Morkel. — Reuters