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Kane Williamson hit his 31st Test century

Kane Williamson scored his second century of the opening Test against South Africa at Mount Maunganui as New Zealand's lead soared past 500 at stumps on Day 3. The home side's urge to keep piling on the runs meant they didn't enforce follow-on after bundling out South Africa for just 162 in the first innings. They then finished the day on 179 for 4, with Williamson getting 109 of those.

The day began with South Africa on 80 for 4, trailing massively after New Zealand amassed 511 in the first innings. For the addition of 47 runs they lost three wickets in the morning session, even as Keegan Petersen played defiantly. That however, was broken through soon the post-Lunch session by New Zealand's double-centurion Rachin Ravindra. Petersen went after a ball that turned away from him and took a leading edge down the ground. Not for the first time in the game, Williamson combined with Ravindra as he ran back from mid-on to complete the catch. From 152 for 8, South Africa were bowled out for the addition of 10 more runs, well short of the home side's total.

New Zealand however decided to bat again. Once again South Africa had a promising start with the ball as Dane Peterson got one length ball to tail back into Tom Latham and trapped him leg before. Once again however, South Africa couldn't make several inroads. Devon Conway and Williamson added a fluent 92-run stand. Much to South Africa's misery, Williamson got a reprieve in the second innings too when Edward Moore dropped a sitter at deep midwicket. He however, got instant redemption by pouching a blinder in just the next over, when he ran in and completed the catch just inches off the ground.