Skipper Kane Williamson scored a brilliant double hundred as New Zealand dominated the proceedings on Day Two of the ongoing first Test against West Indies at the Seddon Park. On Friday, Williamson made his highest Test score of 251, surpassing his previous best of an unbeaten 242 against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in January 2015. Starting the day at 243/2, the hosts lost Ross Taylor early as he went back to the pavillion after adding seven runs to his overnight score of 31. However, the dismissal didn’t have any impact on Williamson who went on to score his 22nd Test hundred. The New Zealand skipper batted with all the composure and elegance, occupying the crease for more than a day’s play, facing 412 balls and hitting 34 fours and two sixes before his innings came to an end in the final session of the day, soon after which the host declared their innings at 519/7. Apart from Williamson, Tom Latham and Kyle Jamieson made notable contributions of 86 and 51* respectively. Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell gave West Indies a decent start after New Zealand declared their first innings at 519/7 on Day Two of the first Test here at Seddon Park on Friday. Both avoid playing risky shots and ensured West Indies do not lose any wicket on the day. Brathwaite scored 20 runs off 89 balls while Campbell is playing at 22 from 68 deliveries. At stumps, West Indies are at 49 for no loss, trailing New Zealand by 470 runs. Resuming the day from 243/2, New Zealand suffered an early blow as Ross Taylor (38) was sent back to the pavilion in the second over of the day. Kane Williamson, who completed his century, was then joined by Henry Nicholls on the field but their partnership also did not last long as the latter was dismissed by Kemar Roach. This was Williamson’s third double century and interestingly, his last double ton also came in at the same venue last year. With this sumptuous knock, Williamson also got to his new highest score in Test cricket. Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop praised Williamson’s knock and wrote: “The technical skill of Kane Williamson’s batting is otherworldly,”.
Brief scores: New Zealand 1st innings 519/7 declared (Kane Williamson 251, Tom Latham 86; Shannon Gabriel 3/89) West Indies 1st innings: 49/0 (Kraigg Brathwaite 20*, John Campbell 22*)