Dunedin, December 12

Kane Williamson became the second New Zealand batsman to score 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year as the hosts built an imposing 308-run lead over Sri Lanka at the close of the third day’s play of the first Test in Dunedin.

Williamson, who achieved the milestone when he surpassed eight runs, was 48 not out at the close with Tom Latham on 72 as New Zealand ended the day at a chilly and windswept University Oval on 171-1.

Martin Guptill (46) was the only batsman to be dismissed in the hosts’ second innings when a delivery from left arm spinner Rangana Herath barely bounced, scuttled along the wicket and clattered into his stumps. That delivery gave pace bowler Tim Southee some hope the pitch could help his side try to dismiss Sri Lanka in the fourth innings, especially considering it took them 117 overs to bowl them out for 294 in their first knock.

Guptill, who scored 156 in the first innings, fell after a 79-run opening partnership with Latham, having given New Zealand a perfect start to build on their 137-run first innings lead with an eye to setting Sri Lanka a target in excess of 400. Williamson, who had started on 992 runs this year, used his feet to hit Herath down to the long on fence to move from seven and achieve the milestone.

Captain Brendon McCullum was the first New Zealand batsman to achieve the mark in 2014.