Williamson’s 17th Test ton puts New Zealand ahead

Kane Williamson hit a record-equalling 17th Test ton to power New Zealand into the advantage on the third day of the series-deciding final Test in Hamilton on Monday (March 27). Williamson also crossed 5,000 Test runs during his masterful innings, becoming the quickest from his country to the landmark.

At stumps on the third day, New Zealand had reached 321 for 4, a seven-run lead with South Africa bowled out for 314 in its first innings.

Williamson equalled Martin Crowe's New Zealand record of 17 Test centuries, while featuring in a commanding 190-run stand with Jeet Raval for the second wicket. Raval was dismissed late in the day, allowing South Africa to mount a bit of a comeback as New Zealand went from 273 for 1 to its stumps score of 321 for 4.

But Williamson was still going strong, batting on 148 with Mitchell Santer giving him company on 13 not out.

Rain had delayed the start of the day's play by an hour, with New Zealand looking for victory to square the series that South Africa is currently leading 1-0. Raval resumed with Tom Latham who progressed from his overnight 42 to 50 before he was caught behind by a diving Quinton de Kock off Morne Morkel. This was Morkel's 250th Test wicket, and he became the sixth South African to achieve the landmark.

However, Williamson and Raval ensured South African didn't see another wicket fall for 58 overs.

Faf du Plessis, the South African skipper, had identified Williamson's wicket as a key to beating New Zealand, and the No.3 batsman showed why as he moved quickly into attack mode, mindful of time lost because of the weather.

Williamson worked the ball to all parts of the ground including a six off Keshav Maharaj’s left-arm spin over the bowler's head. He followed up with two more off Vernon Philander and Morkel over the square leg boundary -- three sixes in one innings from a batsman who only had nine from his previous 60 Tests.

The six off Philander made Williamson the sixth and fastest New Zealander to reach 5,000 Test runs, getting there in 110 innings, seven quicker than Crowe.

He equalled Crowe's record of 17 Test centuries for New Zealand when he hit Dean Elgar's part-time spin for a boundary, but got there in 16 fewer Tests than Crowe.

While Williamson punished the bowling, Raval was impressively patient as he picked up ones and twos off the pace attack of Philander, Morkel and Kagiso Rabada. He batted for 390 minutes and faced 254 balls for his 88.

Rabada then accounted for Neil Broom (12) and Henry Nicholls (nought) in successive balls before Santner joined Williamson to guide New Zealand through to stumps.

For South Africa, Morkel had 2 for 74 and Rabada had 2 for 83.