WELLINGTON: Kane Williamson was officially New Zealand’s best batsman on the fourth day of the 2nd Test on Monday as his 26th test century allowed New Zealand to lead England by 257 runs after following on.

On the fourth day of the second Test on Monday, Kane Williamson was both formally and informally recognised as New Zealand's top batsman because his 26th test century allowed New Zealand to follow on and lead England by 257 runs. Less than an hour before stumps, New Zealand's second innings ended at 483, with Tom Blundell making 90 and being the last man out.

England had already accomplished its biggest successful run chase in tests under head coach Brendon McCullum, hitting 378 to defeat India at Edgbaston last year. McCullum is a New Zealand native. With more than 100 available overs, this pursuit for 258 would seem easy by comparison.

Tim Southee removed Zac Crawley (24) with a ball that cut back to hit off peg and at stumps England was 48/1, needing 210 from 103 overs on the last day to sweep the two-match series.

When he reached 29 on his way to 132, he passed his former teammate Ross Taylor, who finished his career last year with 7,682 runs, to become New Zealand's all-time leading run-scorer in Test matches.

Williamson led New Zealand from a 226 run disadvantage when England forced the follow-on Sunday to a solid lead while batting for the entirety of the fourth day in successful partnerships with Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, and Tom Blundell. Williamson said, "I don't sort of think too much about records. "It's all about the team, your role, and pushing yourself to accomplish more.

It was fantastic to participate in some partnerships today and contribute to a solid second inning performance. Having said that, you always wish for more, and given the situation we found ourselves in, we hoped for a couple more. But tomorrow is the big day.

Williamson demonstrated why he is New Zealand's finest batsman when the going gets tough after scoring only 10 runs in his previous three innings in the series. At the start of the day, the game was still up for grabs: New Zealand was 202/3, 24 runs behind England, who had just taken the second new ball. By the ninth over, Williamson and Nicholls (29), who had a 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket, had eliminated the gap.

Williamson was 34 when Daryl Mitchell, who had been in since Nicholls, stormed past him to a half century from 52 balls. Williamson quickly completed his own half century from 148 deliveries and in a little more than four hours, demonstrating the degree of his perseverance and effort.

Williamson and Mitchell combined for 75 runs before Mitchell was dismissed for 54 runs, leaving New Zealand with a 71-run advantage. They arrived in the form of Tom Blundell, the first Test century-maker, who gave Williamson the sustained assistance he required to progressively elevate New Zealand's standing.

Williamson had been at the plate for seven and a half hours when England, having tried every conceivable strategy to get rid of him, gave Harry Brook his maiden Test cricket bowl. Officially, Brook bowls with a right-arm medium motion. Actually, it could be described as dribbly medium pace.

But Brook ultimately put an end to Williamson's innings and secured a first-ever Test wicket, giving him lifetime bragging rights. The game-changing ball was soft and unobtrusive, pitching short and travelling down the leg side. Williamson dropped his guard to look behind square, and as Ben Foakes, the wicketkeeper, came into play, the ball flashed across the bat.

The catch behind appeal from England was turned down. When England exploded in jubilation, the tourists replayed the call and noticed the tiniest of edges.

New Zealand's resistance was broken when Williamson was eliminated, and the game rapidly came to a close. Tim Southee and Matt Henry were both bowled by Jack Leach in the same over, and Michael Bracewell paid the price for carelessly jogging between wickets.

Blundell's four-hour innings was also terminated by Leach, although by that point, including the first innings, England had been on the field for more than 215 overs.

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