Kane Williamson became the second New Zealand player to go past 1000 runs in Tests in Seddon Park, Hamilton after Ross Taylor. But, the skipper achieved something far more decisive along with Ross Taylor. On a green pitch and overcast conditions, Kane Williamson pounced on the erratic and inconsistent West Indies bowling as they wasted the conditions to smash an unbeaten 97 and a partnership of 75 with Ross Taylor. The duo helped New Zealand reach 243/2 at stumps on day 1 in the first Test. After a rain delay saw the match being delayed by more than an hour, New Zealand were inserted in on a green pitch and Shannon Gabriel struck, removing debutant Will Young.
Williamson then joined Latham and the duo started rebuilding the Kiwi innings. Their patient knocks carried New Zealand to the end of the opening session with an 85-run stand. Latham’s resilience saw him scoring his 19th Test fifty as New Zealand looked steady on the first day after an early blow. Meanwhile, skipper Williamson completed 1,000 Test runs at Seddon Park. He joined Taylor as the only cricketers with 1,000 or more runs at the venue.
Records for Williamson
Kemar Roach finally ended Latham’s stint at the crease as the 154-run partnership between Williamson and Latham came to an end against the run of play. Taylor and Williamson ensured New Zealand didn`t suffer any further loss. Personally for Williamson, this is his 33rd Test as captain moving him ahead of Daniel Vettori (32 Tests) into third on the all-time New Zealand skipper list.
Former skipper Stephen Fleming leads the list with 80 Tests as captain followed by JR Reid with 34 Tests. Brendon McCullum is fifth on the list with 31 Tests. Also, on the opening day of the first Test, both New Zealand and West Indies wore black armbands in honour of Kemar Roach’ s late father Andrew Smith. Cricket West Indies and the Windies team also extended deepest condolences to Roach and his family on the passing of his father.
West Indies have not won a Test in New Zealand since 1995 when Brian Lara’s century helped them win a Test in Wellington.
