Williamson guides Kiwis to series victory

Cricket365
December 24, 2015

Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten 108 to guide New Zealand to a five-wicket win on Day four of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Monday and seal a two-nil series victory for the Black Caps.

The Black Caps resumed the penultimate day of the Test needing a further 47 runs to win but already five wickets down, with Williamson unbeaten on 78 and BJ Watling yet to get off the mark.

The right-handed Williamson quickly got to work knowing that he would be the key wicket if Sri Lanka were to stand any chance of pulling off a win to level the series.

Williamson struck two boundaries early in the day to settle the nerves while Watling was content to get his eye in and pinch the single here and there to nudge the home team to their target.

The 25 year-old Williamson reached his century off 152 balls as the Asian team began contemplating the reality that they would suffer a clean sweep in the Test whites.

Watling was 13 not out, and hit the winning runs, as the Kiwis completed the win early in the first session as Williamson broke the record of Brendon McCullum for most Test runs by a New Zealand batsman in a calendar year.

Sri Lanka batted first on the first day and scored 292 all out on a green pitch and then restricted the hosts to 237 to take a healthy lead after the first innings.

The game turned in the second innings though when the visitors collapsed from 71 without loss to be bowled out for just 133, losing 10 wickets for just 62 runs, leaving the Black Caps with a target of 189.

With the Test series now done and dusted the teams will now play five ODIs, starting at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Boxing Day.