Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra have both hit centuries as the Black Caps took control of the first day of the first Test against South Africa at Mount Maunganui today.
Both were unbeaten as New Zealand left the Bay Oval on 258-2, with Williamson (112) celebrating his 30th century and Ravindra (118) his first.
Williamson's century came off 241 balls and took a mammoth 346 minutes. Ravindra got to his inaugural milestone a little quicker: 189 balls and in 279 minutes.
The pair put on 219 for the third wicket after the Black Caps were creaking at 39-2, Devon Conway out for 1 and fellow opener Tom Latham 20.
At that point the South Africans, featuring six Test debutants, were flying. By the end they appeared fatigued and foot-sore, the realities of Test cricket hitting home.
Arriving at the crease with the Black Caps 2-1 after debutant Tshepo Moreki took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket, Williamson set about doing what he does best: blunting an attack, and in this regard he was brilliantly supported by Ravindra, who was batting at No4 for the first time in a Test.
Williamson had reached 52 at tea, with Ravindra on 48 and the total 125-2.
Neither had chanceless innings, with Williamson dropped off Ruan de Swardt when on 45 and Ravindra off the same bowler when on 80. The two runs Ravindra collected from the drop took the pair's partnership to 150.
The skipper, ranked the top Test batter in the world, was watchful after playing and missing his first ball against Moreki.
With South Africa initially bowling and fielding with accuracy and energy after winning the toss, runs were not easy to come by and Williamson appeared uncharacteristically frustrated at times through the 30s.
His half century came with a boundary – an exquisite on drive off Dane Paterson from the 144th ball he had faced. It was the ninth boundary of his innings and he got to his milestone four minutes short of four hours.
As has become traditional, Williamson celebrated the milestone with a semi-apologetic lift of his bat. He was slightly more flamboyant when reaching his century.
Ravindra, who hit Moreki for six early in his innings, appeared in good touch but constantly found the field with well-timed shots. He reached his half century after tea and, after being dropped by Duanne Olivier in the deep, was becalmed for a while in the 90s.
Ravindra brought up his century with a two off Paterson and celebrated by embracing Williamson.
With the big hitting Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips to come, New Zealand are on track to take the Test away from the Proteas tomorrow.
The Test is being broadcast live and free to air on TVNZ+ and Duke.
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