Kane Williamson celebrates his 26th test century for the Black Caps. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
England have made a bright start to their chase for 258 to win the second test after New Zealand were dismissed for 483 on day four at Wellington's Basin Reserve.
At stumps on day four, the tourists had reached 48-1 off 11 overs, taking a typically aggressive approach to winning the match and completing a 2-0 series sweep.
Zak Crawley was the wicket to fall, for 24, bowled by a superb Tim Southee off-cutter which clipped the off bail.
Fellow-opener Ben Duckett was at the crease on 24, joined by nightwatchman Ollie Robinson on one, with England needing a further 210 runs to secure a seventh successive win and an 11th victory from 12 tests under the control of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
New Zealand need to claim nine wickets on day five if they're end a run of seven winless tests, which has included four straight losses to the in-form English side.
The home side gave themselves a fighting chance through a doughty second innings display, led by Kane Williamson who topped New Zealand's runs list on the way to 132 - an innings that carried him to the top of his country's all-time Test run-scoring list.
Williamson's dismissal came soon after New Zealand resumed at 423 for five at tea and sparked a late flurry of wickets. The last five wickets fell for 28 runs.
The former skipper tickled a leg-side glance from part-time seamer Harry Brook into the gloves of Ben Foakes to end a 282-ball stay.
Williamson's career tally sits at 7787 test runs, 104 ahead of long-time team-mate Ross Taylor, who retired last year.
Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, who shared a 158-run stand with Williamson for the sixth wicket, was the last wicket to fall, for 90 but the tail end offered little support.
Michael Bracewell, Southee and Matt Henry all fell for single-figure scores, with Bracewell's run-out dismissal particularly galling as he failed to ground his bat over after completing a third run in lazy fashion.
The late collapse deprived captain Southee of a chance to push for a declaration, with England able to use up to 100 overs to knock off the required runs.
However, with the pitch holding up well, England may fancy their chances of mowing down their target midway through the final day, although doing so would make it the second-highest successful fourth-innings run chase at the Basin Reserve.
Earlier, Williamson anchored partnerships with Henry Nicholls (29), Daryl Mitchell (54) after New Zealand resumed at 202-3.
Tom Blundell of New Zealand as England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes looks on. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
He and Blundell then thwarted the English attack for the entire middle session after the hosts had reached 325 for five after lunch.
They would have had the Black Caps six wickets down when Blundell hooked Ollie Robinson straight to Anderson at backward square leg but the 40-year-old spilled the catch.
Blundell survived to bring up his fifty and Williamson cut Stuart Broad to the fence for four to complete his 26th hundred from 226 balls.
On the fourth ball of the morning, Williamson hit paceman James Anderson through midwicket for four to eclipse Ross Taylor's mark of 7,683 runs and become the country's most prolific test batsman.
While Williamson may sit top of the run scoring charts for New Zealand he is only 35th on the all time test list, which has Indian great Sachin Tendulkar at the top having scored 15, 921 runs in 200 tests.
Williamson is playing his 92nd test, considerably less than most of those above him on the leaderboard.
Congratulations Kane for becoming NZ’s highest Test run-scorer. This achievement is a testament to your hard work and dedication to Test Cricket, of which I was privy to for a number of years. Here’s to many more
— Ross Taylor (@RossLTaylor) February 26, 2023
With their backs to the wall, New Zealand have produced by far their biggest total of the series, initially making Stokes's attacking decision on day three to make them bat again appear somewhat rash.
Williamson and Nicholls added only 19 runs to the overnight total before Nicholls was out edging Robinson to third slip where Harry Brook juggled the catch.
Mitchell came in to bat with attacking intent and raced toward a half-century with a 'Bazball-esque' strike-rate above a-run-a-ball.
Williamson played a much steadier hand but came within inches of being stumped by Ben Foakes off spinner Jack Leach when on 45.
Third umpire Aleem Dar spent time scanning various angles before concluding Williamson's toe had slid back just over the line to save him.
Mitchell smashed a six over Leach's head to score his seventh half-century off 52 balls.
A few balls later, Williamson reached his fifty from 148 balls with a dance down the wicket and a single off Leach.
Mitchell later tried to slog Broad over square leg but instead sent a top-edge to Joe Root behind the wicket.
-Reuters/RNZ
