Kane Williamson makes 156 as New Zealand sets England 658 to win the 3rd test

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Kane Williamson made 156 as New Zealand amassed a lead of 657 runs before both England openers were dismissed to leave the hosts in a commanding position at the end of the third day of the third cricket test on Monday.

To compound an already dimsal day for the tourists, England captain Ben Stokes limped from the field with a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

Williamson’s 33rd test century was his seventh at Seddon Park and his fifth in consecutive tests on a home ground on which he averages more than 100.

New Zealand finally was dismissed for 453 after leading by 204 on the first innings and in five overs before stumps England slumped to 18-2.

Tim Southee bowled Ben Duckett (4) off an inside edge in the second over of the England innings as the opener charged the veteran seamer who is playing his final test.

Zac Crawley (5) was dismissed by Matt Henry for the sixth time in the series, trapped lbw one over before stumps. Jacob Bethell 9 not out and Joe Root had yet to score were at the crease at the close.

“Whenever you take a wicket for New Zealand it’s special,” said Southee who now has 390 test wickets. “Playing for New Zealand has been such a big part of my life and it’s been such an honor to do what I’ve been able to do.

“Hopefully the next couple of days will be a good couple of days but an emotional couple of days too.”

Stokes was bowling the second ball of his 13th over when, on his follow-through, he clutched at the hamstring of his left leg. He immediately walked from the field with his hand covering the lower half of his face on which was etched both pain and distress.

Stokes suffered a serious injury to his left hamstring while playing in The Hundred in August for the Northern Superchargers against the Manchester Originals. He was on crutches for some time and forced to miss England’s test series against Sri Lanka and the first test of the subsequent series against Pakistan.

Ollie Pope took over the captaincy in Stokes’ absence.

During his six-hour innings, Williamson overtook South Africa’s Graeme Smith to move up to 17th place on the list of leading test run-scorers six behind another South African, Hashim Amla.

He shared partnerships on Monday of 107 with Rachin Ravindra (44) and 92 with Daryl Mitchell (60). His century came from 137 balls and his 150 from 196 balls, the third 50 from 59 runs as New Zealand stepped up its scoring towards an expected declaration.

The entire first session on the third day was lost to rain and a damp outfield. Play resumed at 1.30 with New Zealand 136-3, Williamson 50 not out and Ravindra 2.

Williamson scored fluently throughout the day, hitting 14 fours and a six in his century. He was typically powerful square of the wicket, particularly in his use of the cut shot.

Ravindra was sometimes bogged down, at the start of the day when he added only a handful of runs in the first hour and later when he found his scoring options limited.

At times England bowled to a 7-2 offside field which plugged some scoring zones. With wide gaps on the leg side, Ravindra tried to drag a ball from Matthew Potts outside his off stump through mid-wicket but edged it from the outside half of the bat to Brydon Carse at mid-off.

Mitchell joined Williamson and batted with more urgency which seemed an indication of an impending declaration. He hit two sixes and seven fours in his 60 from 84 balls before holing out to Matthew Potts in the deep to give Jacob Bethell his first test wicket.

New Zealand had a 500 run lead by 4.55pm on a day when play could go on until 7.30pm, under lights if necessary, because of the loss of the morning session. It led by 600 at 6.10pm but no declaration came.

England took the second new ball after 93.4 overs when the lead was 604 and put in the hands of off-spinner Shoaib Bashir who took 2-170, the most expensive bowling figures against New Zealand.

Mitchell Santner took 16 runs from the first over bowled by Joe Root and was out in the same over for 49.

That brought Southee to the crease for his final innings in his 107th and last test, needing two sixes to become the fourth player after Stokes, England coach and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist to hit 100 sixes in tests.

He was welcomed by a guard of honor of England players but made only 2 as the New Zealand innings ended with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell 44 not out.

The highest winning fourth innings total in test history is 418.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Matthew Potts reacts after taking a catch to dismiss New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England bowler Shoaib Bashir, left, is congratulated by teammate Matthew Potts after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Glenn Phillips during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England captain Ben Stokes grabs at his leg while bowling during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England captain Ben Stokes reacts as he leaves the field with an injury during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England captain Ben Stokes, right, is consoled by teammate Joe Root as he leaves the field with an injury during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England captain Ben Stokes reacts as he leaves the field with an injury during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England captain Ben Stokes grabs at his leg while bowling during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England captain Ben Stokes grabs at his leg while bowling during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Kane Williamson bats during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

England's Ollie Pope and teammates welcome New Zealand's Tim Southee to the crease with a guard of honour during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Kane Williamson bats during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Kane Williamson celebrates after reaching a century during play on day three of the third cricket test between England and New Zealand in Hamilton, New Zealand, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

NEW DELHI (AP) — Zakir Hussain, one of India's most accomplished classical musicians who defied genres and introduced tabla to global audiences, died on Sunday. He was 73.

The Indian classical music icon died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease, at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said in a statement.

“His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time,” the statement read.

Hussain was the most recognizable exponent of tabla, a pair of hand drums that is the main percussion instrument in Indian classical music.

Considered the greatest tabla player of his generation, Hussain had a career that spanned six decades in which he collaborated with the likes of singer-songwriter George Harrison, jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, drummer Mickey Hart and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

The son of legendary tabla artist Alla Rakha, Hussain was born in 1951 in Mumbai and was taught how to play the instrument by his father at the age of 7. A child prodigy, he was touring by age 12 and performing alongside India’s classical music legends during his teens.

In an interview that was shared widely on social media in India, Hussain says his father welcomed him into the world after he was born by speaking tabla rhythms into his ears.

“I was brought home, handed over to my dad in his arms. The tradition was that the father is supposed to recite a prayer in the baby’s ear ... So he takes me in his arms, puts his lips to my ear and recites the tabla rhythms into my ears,” Hussain says in the interview, verbally imitating the rhythmic pattern of the instrument.

Both Alla Rakha and Hussain were given the honorific “Ustad,” an Urdu word that means master.

In 1973, Hussain formed the Indian jazz fusion band “Shakti” with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. The band played acoustic fusion music that combined Indian music with elements of jazz, introducing a new sound to Western audiences.

In 2024, Hussain became the first musician from India to win three Grammy awards in the same year.

Hussain’s “Shakti” won Best Global Music Album, and his collaboration with Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck and flutist Rakesh Chaurasia won Best Global Music Performance and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. He had earlier won a Grammy in 2009.

In 2023, Hussain received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Hussain a “true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music” and “an icon of cultural unity.”

“He also brought the tabla to the global stage, captivating millions with his unparalleled rhythm,” Modi wrote in a post on social platform X.

Hussain is survived by his wife and two daughters.

FILE - Indian drum maestro Zakir Hussain performs at the "Living Dream Concert" in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi, File)

FILE - Indian Tabla expert Zakir Hussain laughs during a press conference to announce a musical concert in Mumbai, India, on Dec 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Rajesh Nirgude, File)