currently New Zealand 4 for 441 (Williamson 166, Taylor 197*, McCullum 27) trail Australia 9 for 559 by 113 runs

Kane Williamson scored his second hundred of the series © cricketonline.org
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor both scored centuries on the third day at the WACA as they piled on the all-time highest Test partnership by a New Zealand pair against Australia. New Zealand dominated most of the first two sessions but Australia fought back by removing Williamson for 166 before Mitchell Starc began a spell of searingly quick bowling in which he broke the 160kph barrier.

At tea, Taylor was still at the crease on 165 and had been joined by Brendon McCullum, who was on 21, and New Zealand had moved on to 3 for 406, still trailing Australia's hefty first-innings total by 153 runs. The action heated up in the last 45 minutes before tea, when Starc had both Taylor and McCullum put down off edges, and regularly clocked above 150kph and reached 160.4 with one ball.

McCullum was put down on 5 when he got a thick edge off Starc that flew to third slip, where Nathan Lyon spilled what he should have taken, and Taylor had his life on 137. He drove at Starc and Mitchell Marsh at gully got his hands to the ball but barely even slowed it down on its way to the third man boundary. Starc was fuming, having gained no reward during his fierce spell.

The only wicket had been that of Williamson, who miscued a pull off Josh Hazlewood and lobbed a catch up to Mitchell Johnson at midwicket from the first delivery with a changed new ball. The condition of the Kookaburra had apparently deteriorated in only five overs, the umpires agreeing to yet another change.

For most of the day Williamson had looked incapable of making an error, as he put on a batting masterclass the equal of anything Australia had bowled against in recent years. Williamson was especially impressive whipping the ball off his pads through the leg side and his cover-driving was out of the textbook, keeping the ball along the ground wherever he played.

He brought up his century with a cut behind point for four off Johnson from his 158th delivery, and his subdued celebrations were followed by resolute defence next ball, realising his job had only just begun. It was the second hundred in consecutive Tests for Williamson and his fourth this year; by the time he departed he was averaging 105.12 in Test cricket in 2015.

His 265-run partnership with Taylor for the third wicket was New Zealand's highest of all timeagainst Australia for any wicket. While Australia expected to have trouble against Williamson, they might have hoped to continued Taylor's run of poor form after he looked scratchy in the first Test at the Gabba. Instead, he brought up his first Test ton in nearly a year.

Taylor reached triple figures with a late cut to the third man boundary off Lyon, from his 136th delivery, and it continued Taylor's trend of finding form in the second Test of a tour. In all matches away from home, Taylor averages 24.13 in the first Test of a series and over 55 in the second Test of a series. He may be a slow starter, but right now New Zealand don't mind.

 

Taylor scored boundaries all around the wicket, driving through cover and down the ground with excellent timing. By tea he had scored 26 boundaries and New Zealand's decision to shorten their batting line-up in the absence of allrounder Jimmy Neesham - Doug Bracewell had moved up to No.7 - looked as though it might not be as costly as it had first appeared.

The second session was extended by 17 minutes due to the loss of time to a farcical incident in the morning, when the groundstaff were unable to move the mechanical sightscreen. The delay restricted the first session to 24 overs but it did nothing to interrupt the concentration of Williamson and Taylor, who cruised through to lunch with their only close calls being a couple of edges that fell short of slip.

The first session brought New Zealand 109 runs for the loss of no wickets, and in the second session they piled on a further 157 runs for the loss only of Williamson. Having barely won a session throughout the first seven days of this series, New Zealand had suddenly dominated two in succession.