Williamson’s century was his sixth score over 50 in succession against the tourists, having scored a half-century in each of the five ODIs that preceded the Test series. PHOTO: REUTERS
the hosts reach a strong position of 329 for four at the end of the first day of the first Test at Eden Park on Thursday.
McCullum was 143 not out at the close of play, his eighth Test century, while Williamson was dismissed after tea for 113, his fifth Test hundred.
The pair combined for a 221-run partnership after the hosts had been reduced to 30 for three early in the first session when India captain MS Dhoni had won his sixth successive toss on tour and put New Zealand into bat.
All-rounder Corey Anderson (42) was with McCullum at the close of play with Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan taking two wickets each.
“It’s a very good batting track so we need to keep batting,” said Williamson. “We have to make sure that we have a really good innings to bowl at.”
Early breakthroughs go in vain
Dhoni’s three-pronged pace attack of Mohammed Shami, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma exploited the green drop-in pitch and cool, overcast conditions to knock the top off New Zealand’s batting and expose their middle order before the break.
Sharma had Hamish Rutherford well caught by a diving Ajinkya Rahane in the gully for six then Zaheer trapped Peter Fulton in front for 13 before Sharma had Ross Taylor caught by Ravindra Jadeja for three.
Williamson accumulated through the 90s before he punched Ravindra Jadeja through extra cover for two runs to bring up his century and continue a golden run of form. He was eventually dismissed when he glanced an innocuous Zaheer delivery to Dhoni down the leg side before McCullum and Anderson put on an unbroken 78-run partnership.
“It’s an outstanding position, we just have to make sure that we push on,” said McCullum.
“Kane was brilliant today, he’s such a mature guy for someone so young. He was outstanding to bat with and took a lot of pressure off me.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2014.
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