South Africa vs New Zealand 2017: 3rd Test, Day 3, 5 Talking Points
Kane Williamson and Jeet Raval added 190 for the second wicket to help New Zealand to a seven-run lead at the close of play on Day 3 at Hamilton. Three wickets towards the end of the day shifted the game to an even keel after the hosts had a distinct advantage courtesy a sensational partnership.
There was little movement or swing on offer for the Proteas seamers and Maharaj was unsettled by Williamson, who was targeting him right from the start. Raval was patience personified, while the skipper played his shots to race to a magnificent hundred.
Extra Cover: Williamson equals Crowe record as New Zealand dominate
Morne Morkel's nagging, round-the-wicket line, and de Kock's stunning effort behind the stumps eventually broke the partnership. Rabada then removed Neil Broom and Henry Nicholls in quick succession to even out things.
Brief Scores: South Africa 314; New Zealand 321/4 (Williamson 148*, Raval 88, Morkel 2/74)
Here are the talking points from the day's play at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
#5 Kane Williamson guides New Zealand's fightback
New Zealand needed Williamson to step up and help the Kiwi batting order after they had lost Ross Taylor to injury. The hosts were also a batsman short in this game from the last game with James Neesham dropped for Mitchell Santner, which meant that their top order had to click.
Extra Cover: Stats: Kane Williamson equals all-time Kiwi record
Williamson put all doubts to rest with a scintillating knock highlighted by his handling of Rabada and Maharaj. He never let the left-arm spinner settle into a rhythm and took on Rabada each time he bowled short. With a solid Jeet Raval for company, the Kiwi skipper rubbed salt onto Proteas' wounds.
In the process of notching up an unbeaten 148, Williamson became the fastest Kiwi batsman to 5000 Test runs, surpassing Martin Crowe by seven innings. His straight six off Maharaj to disrupt his tactic of hitting the footmarks was a major highlight of the day.