HAMILTON, New Zealand — Kane Williamson showcased his batting prowess by scoring 156 runs as New Zealand built an imposing lead of 657 runs at the conclusion of the third day of the final test against England on Monday. This performance has placed New Zealand in a dominant position heading into the final stages of the match.

In a further blow to England, captain Ben Stokes exited the field after reinjuring his hamstring, adding to the team’s woes. Williamson’s effort marks his 33rd test century, the seventh recorded at Seddon Park, and his fifth in consecutive matches on a ground where he boasts an impressive average exceeding 100.

After New Zealand was dismissed for a total of 453, they had already secured a 204-run lead in the first innings. England’s innings started poorly, as they quickly found themselves at 18-2 within just five overs before the day’s play concluded.

Tim Southee dismissed opener Ben Duckett for 4 runs in the second over of England’s innings, sending him back to the pavilion via an inside edge. Additionally, Zac Crawley fell victim to Matt Henry’s bowling, trapped lbw for 5 runs, marking his sixth dismissal of the series. At the day’s end, Jacob Bethell remained at the crease with 9 runs alongside Joe Root, who had yet to score.

Reflecting on his achievements, Southee, who reached the milestone of 390 test wickets, expressed the significance of taking wickets for New Zealand. “Playing for New Zealand has been a crucial part of my life, and it has been an immense honor,” he remarked. As they move forward into the next couple of days, he anticipates a mixed emotional experience.

Stokes’ injury occurred while he was bowling the second delivery of his 13th over; he grasped his left hamstring and walked off the field with a visibly distressed expression. Previously, he had suffered a serious hamstring injury during The Hundred competition in August, which sidelined him for England’s test series against Sri Lanka and the first test against Pakistan.

During his lengthy six-hour inning, Williamson surpassed South Africa’s Graeme Smith to ascend to 17th place among the leading test run-scorers, trailing only six runs behind Hashim Amla. He established partnerships of 107 runs with Rachin Ravindra, who scored 44, and 92 runs with Daryl Mitchell, who contributed 60. Williamson reached his century in 137 balls and his 150 in 196 balls, showcasing an aggressive batting approach as New Zealand prepared for a potential declaration.

Rain disrupted the first session of play on the third day, preventing any action until 1:30, with New Zealand resuming at 136-3, Williamson not out on 50 and Ravindra at 2. Throughout the day, Williamson maintained fluency in his scoring, hitting 14 fours and a six, showcasing his strong striking, particularly with the cut shot.

Ravindra experienced difficulty early on, struggling to score in the first hour and facing limited opportunities later as England employed a 7-2 offside field, which restricted his runs. Attempting to find a gap, Ravindra edged an outside ball from Matthew Potts to Brydon Carse, which brought an end to his innings.

Mitchell entered the fray next to Williamson, batting aggressively and hinting at an imminent declaration by striking two sixes and seven fours in a brisk 60 off 84 balls. However, he fell to Matthew Potts in the deep, awarding Jacob Bethell his first test wicket. By 4:55 PM, New Zealand’s lead grew to an impressive 500 runs, and by 6:10 PM, it reached 600, yet they opted not to declare.

England then took the second new ball after 93.4 overs with the lead at 604, bringing on off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who recorded 2-170, the most expensive bowling figures against New Zealand. Mitchell Santner’s attempt to capitalize on Joe Root’s bowling saw him score 16 runs before being dismissed in the same over.

This led to Southee’s entrance for his final innings in his 107th and last test match. Needing to hit two sixes to achieve the milestone of 100 sixes in tests, he received a guard of honor from England players but could only manage 2 runs as New Zealand’s innings ended with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell not out on 44. The record for the highest successful chase in a test fourth innings stands at 418 runs.