Cricket: Official Blackcaps thread the people’s #1

[Trapper]

And 7000 runs up for the Captain!

[Kiwias]

Achieved in his 144th innings. Here is a list of the players just below him.

[Gumboot]

I'm really enjoying the Spark commentary team for this test. The absence of Mark Richardson is a huge improvement.

[Gumboot]

300-run partnership up between Williamson and Nicholls.

[Carter's Choice]

Hell of a partnership here. Whilst the contest is currently badly one-sided, it's so good to watch as a Back Caps fan.

374-3

[Trapper]

Achieved in his 144th innings. Here is a list of the players just below him.

There’s some absolute legends of the game on that list and it just goes to show how ridiculously good KW is.

[Kiwias]

Neat comment on cricinfo:

"Shows how scared the Kiwis are of Pak bowlers. They don't want to bat again."

[Carter's Choice]

So would Williamson be thinking of a declaration at this point, or is it all about just batting Pakistan out of the match? It's only session 1 of Day 3, NZ could bat for another day and a bit if they're good enough and still have plenty of time to take bowl Pakistan out again.

[Kiwias]

KW on 150*

[Trapper]

So would Williamson be thinking of a declaration at this point, or is it all about just batting Pakistan out of the match? It's only session 1 of Day 3, NZ could bat for another day and a bit if they're good enough and still have plenty of time to take bowl Pakistan out again.

Well, this is the Crappers we are talking about so a collapse is still on the cards but if we can manage to bat through to tea and then give ourselves the last session to bowl at them and a full day tomorrow I reckon that’s how we’ll go about it.

[Carter's Choice]

So would Williamson be thinking of a declaration at this point, or is it all about just batting Pakistan out of the match? It's only session 1 of Day 3, NZ could bat for another day and a bit if they're good enough and still have plenty of time to take bowl Pakistan out again.

Well, this is the Crappers we are talking about so a collapse is still on the cards but if we can manage to bat through to tea and then give ourselves the last session to bowl at them and a full day tomorrow I reckon that’s how we’ll go about it.

Tomorrow is only Day 4. Why not try and bat all day today if possible?

[Trapper]

So would Williamson be thinking of a declaration at this point, or is it all about just batting Pakistan out of the match? It's only session 1 of Day 3, NZ could bat for another day and a bit if they're good enough and still have plenty of time to take bowl Pakistan out again.

Well, this is the Crappers we are talking about so a collapse is still on the cards but if we can manage to bat through to tea and then give ourselves the last session to bowl at them and a full day tomorrow I reckon that’s how we’ll go about it.

Tomorrow is only Day 4. Why not try and bat all day today if possible?

Shit, my mistake. Yeah, why not indeed. I guess it all depends on how many runs we want to set for a chase. Pakistan have shown that if they are just going to hang in there and not lose wickets that are capable of that so maybe we set them a target of 375 or so to make it interesting? This is why Test cricket is best cricket, so many permutations.

[Kiwias]

Lunch at 400 - 3. Classy of the Pakistan players to clap KW and Nicholls off the field.

[Carter's Choice]

Lunch at 400 - 3. Classy of the Pakistan players to clap KW and Nicholls off the field.

It's impossible not to like this Pakistan team. A dickhead free squad.

[Trapper]

Just watched the piece on Hagley Oval, what a beautiful ground.

[Kiwias]

Nicholls too get the 150

[Kiwias]

Double post

[Trapper]

.

Well done that man!

[Kiwias]

Nicholls out and I loved the expression on Abbas' face -- "Finally!!"

[Trapper]

Nicholls out and I loved the expression on Abbas' face -- "Finally!!"

Had to come eventually, he rode his luck to get the score he did but a top innings none the less.

[mrbrownstone]

Achieved in his 144th innings. Here is a list of the players just below him.

Gee it's not bad to be ahead of Ponting and Lara.

On the declaration, I don't think it even enters the mind until tomorrow morning if we're good enough. That wicket won't help though.

[Kiwias]

Watling gone to a superb delivery and Mitchell now in.

[mrbrownstone]

Just a couple more quick stats on Kane Williamson. Since Jan 1 2014, when he really started to find his feet at test level, he's averaged 65.8 with 20 of his 24 test hundreds. That includes an average of 74 at home, 54 away, and 64 at neutral venues, and an average of 81 in tests we've won. He's scored a hundred against all 9 teams he's played against in that time, and averages 40 plus everywhere except Sri Lanka and India, where he's only played 2 games each.

By comparison, in that same period Steve Smith averages 69 with 24 hundreds, Kohli averages 56.41 with 22 hundreds, and Root averages 50 with 15 hundreds (all 3 have played more tests even though Smith missed a year).

He took a few years to properly find his feet at this level, but since then he's up there with the very, very best - with a strong argument he's better than Kohli.

[Kiwias]

Pakistan catching may suck but their fielding otherwise is impressive.

[Trapper]

I don’t want to say it but what a time to go off.

[Trapper]

And the Captain get his double ton!

[Kiwias]

I don’t want to say it but what a time to go off.

Graham Dowling was on 199* overnight batting against India and got his 200, just as KW gets his now.

[Jb1981]

Williamson is locking in that number one batting spot.

[Kiwias]

KW holes out in the deep and departs to handshakes and clapping from the entire Pakistani team, and the crowd. Damn classy team. They ran in from all parts of the ground.

[Carter's Choice]

Not a bad knock by the captain.

[Trapper]

Ah well, all good things.....

[Kiwias]

Half an hour of smash and bash by these two and an hour of bowling at them before stumps?

[Jb1981]

Daryl Mitchell has a massive job to do here. He needs to shepherd Jamieson to an average boosting not out so that we can further talk up his status as the most exciting up and coming all-rounder.

[mrbrownstone]

To put into context just how rare Williamson's run of form has been, he has 639 runs in his last 4 test innings. That's the 8th highest run aggregate in 4 consecutive test innings ever. The top 3 are Hammond, Bradman, Sobers, with Voges, Sangakkara, G Smith, and Gooch just a handful of runs ahead. Elite company for a special player.

[Carter's Choice]

Daryl Mitchell has a massive job to do here. He needs to shepherd Jamieson to an average boosting not out so that we can further talk up his status as the most exciting up and coming all-rounder.

I was thinking the same thing We cannot afford a cheap dismissal from Kyle Jamieson.

[mrbrownstone]

Daryl Mitchell has a massive job to do here. He needs to shepherd Jamieson to an average boosting not out so that we can further talk up his status as the most exciting up and coming all-rounder.

If he stays not out his average will go above 50 (with a bowling average of 14). Do the right thing and declare Kane.

[Jb1981]

Daryl Mitchell has a massive job to do here. He needs to shepherd Jamieson to an average boosting not out so that we can further talk up his status as the most exciting up and coming all-rounder.

I was thinking the same thing We cannot afford a cheap dismissal from Kyle Jamieson.

I’m actually feeling nervous

[Kiwias]

KW is waiting so Mitchell has a chance at his maiden ton.

[Trapper]

KW is waiting so Mitchell has a chance at his maiden ton.

And there it is, selfish work from KW.

[Kiwias]

WHich he duly gets and that's the declaration. Jamieson not out too.