Kane Williamson hit masterful 156 at his best location to take New Zealand within touching distance of a consolation victory over England at the close of day three of the third Test match in Hamilton on Monday.
The first session went missing due to rain and Williamson came out on top under Seddon Park lights, the Black Caps led 340- 657 until England got them out for 453 in the last hour.
England, who have won the series – with victories in Christchurch and Wellington – are 18 for two at the close of play with Jacob Bethell nine not out and Joe Root unchanged at stumps still 640 runs short of their ominous target.
England might be a man down as well after the captain Ben Stokes quit on day two with a hamstring injury and isn’t sure of the bat.
Tim Southee who was playing home for the last time in a Test match on home soil earned one of the best ovations of the day when he entered the bowling in the New Zealand tail and hit a two in pursuit of his 99th Test six.
The house burst back into life shortly after, when he ripped a shot down the left-hand boundary at Ben Duckett and the England opener struck a hefty inside edge on his stumps for four.
‘When you get a wicket for New Zealand it’s always something special.. it’s something I’ll miss,’ said Southee. “Hopefully the next couple of days are a good couple of days, but also an emotional couple of days,” she said.
Duckett’s opening partner Zak Crawley was third for five before Matt Henry threw him in front in the final over of the day to cement New Zealand’s lead.
The bat was everything Daryl Mitchell (60), Mitchell Santner (49), Rachin Ravindra (44) and Tom Blundell (44 not out) did on a day that never had a declaration but Williamson was the better player.
The 34-year-old resumed on 50 against New Zealand 136-3 and did have some moments, the last of which was Brydon Carse’s lbw appeal on 73 that was dismissed but determined an umpire’s decision on appeal.
He was in 107-run fourth-wicket stand with Ravindra while he worked his way up to his 33rd Test century and seventh in 12 at Seddon Park.
Williamson dropped the chains on his way to 100 for the fifth Test match in a row at Hamilton, slicing Bethell’s sometimes slow runs straight down the line for a six from 137 balls.
The second stand of 92 with Mitchell put the lead well beyond the all-time 418-4 run chase West Indies had against Australia at St John’s in 2003.
Williamson eased past 150 and then finally left hoping to sweep Shoaib Bashir but only seeing the third-line substitute deep in the hole.
England’s top bowler was Bethell who blasted three for 72 after dismissing Mitchell for his first Test wicket and returning Southee and Henry with the final two deliveries of the innings.