NZ vs ENG: Kane Williamson century sees New Zealand set England 258 to win 2nd Test
To lead New Zealand to 483 all out in its second innings and set England a target of 258 runs to win the second Test in Wellington, record-breaker Kane Williamson batted a magnificent century on Monday. The hosts came back after being requested to continue, with Tom Blundell being last man out for 90 and former captain Williamson scoring 132. After opener Zak Crawley, who was on 24, was struck by a ball that nibbled back from New Zealand skipper Tim Southee, England was 48-1 in its second innings at stumps. In order to complete a 2-0 sweep after winning the first test by 267 runs, England needed to score 210 runs on Tuesday's last day. Ben Duckett was still undefeated at 23, while nightwatchman Ollie Robinson was at 1. Just four teams have come back from deficits in Test cricket history, and New Zealand needs nine wickets to tie the two-match series. With 202-3 and behind by 24 runs when the second innings of the home team was begun on Monday, Williamson drove the assault with his 26th Test century. Jack Leach, an England spinner, finished with 5-157, but it was batting legend Harry Brook, whose occasional seam bowling resulted in the decisive dismissal of Williamson. Williamson and Blundell put on a sixth-wicket stand of 158 before Williamson was eventually caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes off a good edge.
Williamson limped off after bringing New Zealand back into the game to thunderous cheers from the Wellington fans. After surpassing Ross Taylor in the morning session to become New Zealand's most productive Test batsman with 7,787 runs, he received his second standing ovation of the day. As England declared their first innings at 435-8, they were destroyed for 209 before inviting the hosts to bat again thanks to their partnership. Just England and India have won tests after leading twice, while only India has led once in a test.Williamson, who just avoided being stumped while on 45, gave his team a chance to win after tormenting England with Blundell and receiving assistance from Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell before lunch. Williamson followed Blundell's lead, smashing England's seamer for four to bring up his hundred, his first since striking two tonnes against Pakistan in December 2022, as New Zealand cleared the 400 mark. Williamson left, and New Zealand swiftly disintegrated. As Foakes whipped off the bails from Ben Stokes's laser throw in the deep, Michael Bracewell foolishly failed to ground his bat, going out for six when he should have been home safely. The final four New Zealand wickets went for only five runs.Blundell was the final out after edging Leach to Root at slip while attempting a huge shot.
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