Cricket: World record stand puts NZ in box seat

Kane Williamson celebrates after reaching his double century against Sri Lanka. Photo by Getty...
Kane Williamson celebrates after reaching his double century against Sri Lanka. Photo by Getty Images
A world record-setting day for New Zealand has given it the springboard to press for victory on the final day of the second test against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve today.

The sixth-wicket partnership between Kane Williamson and BJ Watling of 365 eclipsed the old mark of 352, set by Watling and New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum on the same ground last February.

New Zealand declared at 524 for five, with Williamson on 242 - his first test double century - and Watling on 142.

It was Williamson's ninth test century. Only Martin Crowe (17), John Wright and Ross Taylor (12), Brendon McCullum and Nathan Astle (11) have scored more for New Zealand. It is the seventh-highest score by a New Zealand batsman in a test.

He passed 3000 test runs at 208, becoming the fastest New Zealand batsman to the mark - in 71 innings, two fewer than Crowe, who is rated the country's finest test batsman.

His average is also up to 45.96, the best by any New Zealander with a minimum of 20 test innings.

Williamson did have some luck. He was dropped twice on Monday and at 104 wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene put him down off spin bowler Rangana Herath.

At 233, Jayawardene badly missed a stumping off the luckless Herath when Williamson was stranded down the pitch.

Watling, by contrast, was chanceless in completing his fourth test century and only McCullum, with five, has more for New Zealand among specialist wicketkeepers.

Sri Lanka needed to win this test to level the series, after losing the first by eight wickets in Christchurch.

Williamson, who batted 10hr 23min and faced 438 balls, and Watling - eight hours and 333 balls faced - all but put that idea to bed yesterday.

Unless Sri Lanka pull off what would be the highest successful fourth innings run chase in the Basin Reserve's history, New Zealand will have completed six successive test series either won or drawn.

At stumps, needing 390 to win, Sri Lanka was 45 for one, having lost opener Dimuth Karunaratne to a poor shot, caught at mid off from offspinner Mark Craig's second ball.

Kaushal Silva was on 20 and nightwatchman Dhammika Prasad on 1.


Numbers from the test 

• Kane Williamson's 242 not out against Sri Lanka is his first test double century.

• He is the 14th New Zealander to achieve the featIt is his ninth test ton. Only Martin Crowe (17 centuries), John Wright and Ross Taylor (12 each), Nathan Astle and Brendon McCullum (11 each) have scored more.

• Williamson has the highest test average, 45.96, of any New Zealand batsman with a minimum of 20 innings

• At 208, Williamson became the fastest New Zealand batsman to 3000 test runs (71 innings) eclipsing Martin Crowe (73 innings) and Ross Taylor (75)

• Williamson's partnership with BJ Watling of 365 unbroken is the world record for the sixth wicket, eclipsing the 352 of Watling and Brendon McCullum against India last year on the same ground

• Watling's 142 not out is his fourth test century, and his highest.

• Only McCullum, with five, has scored more test centuries for New Zealand as a specialist wicketkeeper (McCullum has 11 altogether)


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