Williamson defiant for Black Caps

Kane Williamson scored an unbeaten century to deny South Africa and a rampaging Morne Morkel victory in the third and final Test in Hamilton.

Set 389 to win, New Zealand were indebted to Williamson as he kept out Morkel, who took all of the wickets to fall in the hosts’ 200 for six.

Williamson’s contribution – 102no – was all the more valuable in the absence of skipper Ross Taylor, who was unavailable to bat after suffering a broken arm in the first innings, but did not stop his side losing the series 1-0.

Williamson’s vigil came after South Africa had declared on 189 for three an hour before lunch and, having put New Zealand back in, immediately had them in trouble.

Daniel Flynn gloved a catch behind off Morkel, who then trapped Brendon McCullum lbw., leaving Martin Guptill and Williamson to dig in before lunch.

But Guptill fell soon after the resumption, caught at at gully for 18 by Jacques Rudolph.

Williamson rode his luck, surviving a number of dropped catches. By the time Kruger Van Wijk was caught and bowled for Morkel’s sixth wicket, Williamson was inching towards a century which he brought up, appropriately, with a single.

His century contained nine boundaries and sealed a draw which was tough on South Africa and in particular Morkel, who finished with six for 23 off 16.4 overs.