Kane Williamson has reached what is now a predictable half century as New Zealand recover from the loss of openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham in the first Test against England in Christchurch.
Williamson, who averages almost 55 in Tests, hit his 50 off 90 balls, a knock which included seven boundaries, as the Black Caps pushed on after the lunch break.
After losing the toss, the Black Caps were 104-2 at lunch, with Conway dismissed early for 2 and Latham for a bright and breezy 47 off 54 balls.
That brought Williamson, who missed the India series due to injury, and Rachin Ravindra, to the crease and while Ravindra was out for 34 off 49 after lunch, Williamson has kept going in his usual inexorable manner.
He got to 26 off 57 balls at the lunch break and has looked relatively untroubled against an England attack which has struggled at times to get to grip with the greenish pitch at a warm Hagley Oval.
Overall, the first session probably belonged to the Black Caps after England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to field.
Conway was out early when playing a loose shot down the ground – he was caught and bowled by Gus Atkinson – and Latham was dismissed when he played across the line to Brydon Carse and was caught behind.
But Ravindra and Williamson looked relatively untroubled and the England bowlers appeared frustrated at their inability to make the most of a relatively green pitch which was creating issues for some of the bowlers in terms of their footing.
Kane Williamson celebrates his 50 against England at Hagley Oval. (Source: Photosport)
Before lunch, Williamson was particularly harsh on England skipper Ben Stokes, hitting consecutive boundaries – an exquisite cover drive and an equally stylish pull.
Stokes in particular appeared frustrated at his inability to break through, and also his loss of traction at the crease, which came after he addressed his team recently about his on-field body language following a disappointing 2-1 series loss in Pakistan.
Stokes went for 20 off his three overs. Chris Woakes, who opened the attack, was England’s other bowler. He went for 27 runs off 8 overs.
Black Caps left hander Ravindra also looked in good nick but got away with one in the final over before lunch when the television replay showed he nicked one behind to Stokes without an appeal from the English.
New Zealand are hoping to capitalise on their momentum of a wildly successful tour of India, where they won the series 3-0.
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