Williamson ton takes NZ lead past 200

BARBADOS: Kane Williamson was at his meticulous best and his seventh Test century guided New Zealand into a promising position. The visitors stretched their lead to 236 and, with the fourth-day Kensington Oval pitch showing signs of variable bounce, assumed the pole position in the Test.

West Indies had bet on the pitch misbehaving as well and utilised spin for much of the session. However, Jimmy Neesham did not let them settle. His second half-century of the match was characterised by clean hits, especially down the ground. His fluency melded with Williamson's composure and their 91-run stand completely offset the loss of an early wicket.

Brendon McCullum had not looked authoritative and was trapped leg before by an indipper from Kemar Roach. Williamson had to defuse a tricky situation last evening and those skills were needed once again. Soft hands were a feature of his play as he buckled down; decisive footwork got him into positions that allowed him to tackle extra turn or low bounce.

Williamson had begun with two fours off his first seven balls before settling into his designated role of sheet anchor. As familiar as that has become for New Zealand, it doesn't happen often during the second innings. Williamson had four fifties but the remainder of his last ten second-innings knocks had all been single figures. However, his ability to reduce Test cricket into the next ball helped both him and his side to gain a solid foothold into securing the series. He also joined Martin Crowe at the top of the list of centuries made by New Zealand batsmen by the age of 24.

West Indies had lacked intensity for much of the morning session. Shane Shillingford and Sulieman Benn were unable to put the batsmen under pressure. Neesham was their main road block as he used his feet cleverly. He chugged along at nearly a run a ball against both bowlers. Though he did gift his wicket away, he was a vital part of New Zealand making 137 runs in the extended session.