Williamson hits 176 as New Zealand lead grows

HAMILTON, New Zealand: Kane Williamson´s mammoth knock came to an end at 176 but not before he had cemented New Zealand´s strong position on day four of the deciding Test against South Africa in Hamilton on Tuesday.

Williamson and overnight partner Mitchell Santner both went in the morning session as New Zealand took lunch at 397 for six, a lead of 83 on the first innings.

Morne Morkel, South Africa´s chief destroyer, ended Williamson´s seven-and-a-half hour stand with a short ball that was hooked to long leg where Vernon Philander held a smart catch low down.

It ended Williamson´s hopes of a second double century but with the third best knock of his career he ensured New Zealand had a shot at levelling the series.

His top scores are an unbeaten 242 against Sri Lanka two years ago and 192 against Pakistan in 2014.

Santner, who joined Williamson when New Zealand lost two wickets in two balls late on Monday, fell in the last over before lunch for 41 edging Kagiso Rabada to gully fieldsman JP Duminy.

New Zealand resumed the day at 321 for four and only added 76 runs as they cautiously built their lead in an extended session which started 30 minutes early to make up for time lost to rain.

Williamson faced 285 balls for his 176, which included 16 boundaries and three sixes, and lifted his career average to an impressive 51.16.

Morkel, who also claimed the wickets of Tom Latham and Jeet Raval, has three for 90 while Rabada has three for 109.