WELLINGTON: Kane Williamson scored his third consecutive Test century to give New Zealand a commanding lead against Sri Lanka early on the second day of the second Test in Wellington on Saturday.
Williamson was 113 not out at lunch and Henry Nicholls was 72 not out, taking the hosts to 304-2 in the morning session at Basin Reserve.
Resuming on 155-2, the pair barely got a chance as the visiting bowlers struggled to extract any venom from the Besan Reserve pitch.
Williamson was brilliant in reaching the three-figure mark for the 28th time and on reaching 91 became the first New Zealander to score 8000 runs.
It was a continuation of rich form for the veteran, who scored a match-winning century in the first Test of the two-match series in Christchurch.
The 32-year-old was unbeaten on 121 when the last-ball victory was secured by two wickets.
Williamson scored an equally dramatic 132 in the second Test against England in Wellington last month, when New Zealand won the series by one run.
He was restless on Saturday, hitting 12 fours, and two of his sixes in the very first over came off consecutive balls after the drinks of fast bowler Lahiro Kumara.
In contrast, Henry suffered a poor run of form as he failed to score 40 in his last 15 innings.
However, the left-hander looked safe in a 124-ball innings that might have silenced critics who were calling for his omission.
Sri Lanka bowled with more control than on the first day, which was cut short by rain and poor light, and battered by strong winds.
But they rarely looked threatening, as Williamson and Nicholls extended their unbeaten third-wicket partnership to 186 runs.
