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Ton-up Williamson savours Lord's 'buzz'

Kane Williamson said it felt particularly special to join the select group of New Zealand batsmen who've made a Test century at Lord's after he reached three figures at 'the home of cricket' on Saturday. Williamson's 132 was the cornerstone of New Zealand's 523 that gave the tourists a first-innings lead of 134. England were 74 for two in their second innings at stumps on the third day of the first Test, reducing New Zealand's advantage to 60 runs. But there was no denying that the day belonged to the Black Caps, with Williamson's innings just the 14th Test century by a New Zealand batsman at Lord's. The 24-year-old, who has now scored 10 hundreds in 40 Tests -- an impressive rate -- was 92 not out overnight, having seen England's Joe Root and Ben Stokes both fall in the 90s earlier in the match. But Williamson got the eight runs he needed for a coveted place on the Lord's honours board just two overs into Saturday's play. "Overnight, knowing you are really close to three figures and much spoken-about honours board, it plays a little part on your mind but to be honest I was just trying to get on with the job at hand," said Williamson. "It was nice to cross the line, with all the history here at Lord's and there a lot of great names on the honours board," added Williamson, whose mentor Martin Crowe is the only New Zealand batsman to have made two Test hundreds at Lord's. Asked if he was surprised to see his name already taped up -- before the sign-writer puts it there permanently -- on the honours board, Williamson replied: "I got more of a surprise when the clouds came over and made batting extremely difficult." Williamson said playing at Lord's was like nowhere else. "There's a quiet buzz that sounds like everyone is talking to their mate next to them while the cricket goes on in the background, then all of a sudden there is a shot or a wicket and then you realise everyone is watching closely. It’s unique playing here." Williamson, having defied England's pace attack, fell to off-spinner Moeen Ali. He batted for more than six hours, facing 262 balls including 15 fours. His innings was all the more impressive as it was Williamson's first competitive knock since April, with the New Zealand number three required for a mere two matches in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League. Williamson, in common with several of his team-mates, arrived in England just days before this match, with no time for a warm-up game. But as he'd done last year, when making 113 in a Test against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, Williamson made light of his lack of match practice. "Towards the end when I wasn’t looking like playing (in the IPL), my focus was very much to prepare for Test cricket as it was so soon," Williamson explained. "The most important thing is actually the mental transition and not letting little things disturb you," he added.