However he withstood a barrage of short fast bowling from Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, the latter striking Williamson a painful blow in the most delicate of places.
Williamson's 192 in Sharjah was in the test played immediately after the tragic death of Australian batsman Phil Hughes, when he was struck on the helmet in a Sheffield Shield game.
It was a bizarre match, which neither side wanted to play, and there wasn't much pleasure to be taken from the occasion.
His 242 not out against Sri Lanka last year is his highest, and was a fine, remorseless innings.
But his 140 in Brisbane tops the lot for sheer spectacle.
Take away a swished attempted hook at Mitchell Johnson on 98 and, after lunch yesterday, the occasional flirt outside off, and this was a beautifully constructed innings, and at good pace too.
When you get an Australian press box collectively purring at a New Zealand batting performance you know something special is happening.
It won't be his last test century but Williamson will do well to play a better one.
Not that you'll hear that talk from the player himself.
''When you make a contribution to a strong team performance that has the most satisfaction," Williamson said.
''It was nice to have an innings out there and spend some time in the middle."
Williamson hinted, no more, that other big innings might privately have meant a touch more.
''You always want more to put your team into a better position.
''It always has a lot more satisfaction behind it when you're in a strong position in the game. That's not to be and we've got a tough challenge on our hands."
He laid off self praise over having managed three test centuries this year too.
''I don't look at it like that. I try to adapt to conditions as best I can and try to contribute as best I can to a team performance, and keep it simple."
Australian opener David Warner had no such worries singing his praises.
''I can't fault one bit of his technique," Warner said of Williamson's innings.
''The way he played out there against three unbelievable quicks was fantastic.
''The way he got himself in, and his intent was fantastic. He's on top of his game, a world class player.
''He's leading that Kiwi batting attack and I'm sure he's got a great career ahead of him."
Kane Williamson's test century sheet
131, v India, Ahmedabad, 2010
102 not out, v South Africa, Wellington, 2012
135, v Sri Lanka, Colombo 2012
114, v Bangladesh, Chittagong 2013
113 v India, Auckland, 2014
113, v West Indies, Jamaica, 2014
161 not out, v West Indies, Barbados, 2014
192, v Pakistan, Sharjah, 2014
242 not out, v Sri Lanka, Wellington, 2015
132, v England, Lord's 2015
140 v Australia, Brisbane 2015
