Captain Kane Williamson's patient unbeaten century led New Zealand to a tense four-wicket victory over South Africa in a low-scoring Cricket World Cup match at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Captain Kane Williamson's patient unbeaten century led New Zealand to a tense four-wicket victory over South Africa in a low-scoring Cricket World Cup match at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Chasing 242 to win a match reduced to 49 overs a side by rain, New Zealand looked set to comfortably reach the target with Martin Guptill and Williamson at the crease.However Guptill getting hit wicket and a flurry of wickets meant that Black Caps were in a spot of bother. But icy cool Williamson, who is part of cricketing royalty showed why is he so highly rated as he steadied the ship with Colin de Grandhomme (60) getting Kiwis to the brink of a win.
Even when Colin de Grandhomme fell and it became tight, Williamson never panicked and finished the business which got many Twitterati to wonder, is this Kane Williamson or MS Dhoni. Williamson ensured that New Zealand along with India remain unbeaten and are now virtually assured of a top four spot barring some major hiccups.
After 1999, South Africa have never defeated Black Caps in a World Cup and the tradition continued. Four years back, this two team played an epic semi-final which ended with heartbreaking de Villiers tears. Well, while the stake may be slightly less this time for Kiwis, they have virtually ensured that the perennial underachievers South Africa again return home without the silverware. However, this time they didn't choke, they weren't just good enough. CSA has much to ponder if they want Proteas to re-emerge as the most dominant side in world cricket.
"Kane Williamson, under pressure, does the business!"
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 19, 2019
How pleased does @Bazmccullum look at this special moment for Williamson and New Zealand! #CWC19 | #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/cjldSeWP0o
Here's latest leaderboard:
#BACKTHEBLACKCAPS remain unbeaten in #CWC19 and are No.1️⃣ on the table! pic.twitter.com/1sjfO5WrnF
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 19, 2019
Bradmansque, well scratch that, this is Kane Williamsonsque average. A league of his own.....
Kane Williamson's average this #CWC19 after three innings: 2️⃣ 2️⃣ 5️⃣
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 19, 2019
#BACKTHEBLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/gXg9gD4t3Q
Here's how Twitter paid tributes to 'Kane the Able'
What a brilliant player, what an understated man. The player you want in your team under pressure. #Williamson
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 19, 2019
That's it! Kane is the one true successor to MSD at @ChennaiIPL
— maxdavinci (@maxdavinci) June 19, 2019
That's it! Kane is the one true successor to MSD at @ChennaiIPL
— maxdavinci (@maxdavinci) June 19, 2019
Kane is able! What an innings! What a match! #NZvSA #CWC19
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) June 19, 2019
Kane was main.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 19, 2019
Top match and a great win for NZ. Most competitive match of the 25 games so far in the World Cup. #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/4pMR1Oxyra
What a marvellous innings from Kane Williamson. Fantastic game of cricket and his calmness stood out in taking New Zealand home. Terrific stuff #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/ZxFgagPZl4
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) June 19, 2019
With Reuters inputs
1. Review of the thrilling match
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(Image-AFP)
2. Lookback at Kane Williamson's class innings
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3. How the match unfolded
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4. Williamson shows class in thriller
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Reuters report of the match:
Captain Kane Williamson's patient unbeaten century led New Zealand to a tense four-wicket victory over South Africa in a low-scoring Cricket World Cup match at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Chasing 242 to win a match reduced to 49 overs a side by rain, New Zealand looked set to comfortably reach the target with Martin Guptill and Williamson at the crease.
But Guptill, on 35, was dismissed hit-wicket trying to pull Andile Phehlukwayo to the boundary and Chris Morris bowled a fiery spell to get rid of Ross Taylor and Tom Latham, both caught behind for one run.
Morris also had Jimmy Neesham caught at slip for 23 to leave New Zealand struggling at 137-5, but Williamson and Colin de Grandhomme (60) shared a composed 91-run partnership to ease New Zealand nerves.
South Africa had a golden opportunity to run Williamson out after a mix-up with De Grandhomme left the Kiwi skipper well short of his ground but David Miller fluffed the chance, whipping the bails off without collecting the ball.
De Grandhomme fell before the end but Williamson reached his century with a six in the final over and guided New Zealand to their fourth win of the tournament with three balls to spare.
"It was nice to be there at the end," said Williamson who finished unbeaten on 106. "It's just trying to do the job as well as you can, I was fortunate I was able to do it today. There were a number of contributions that were so vital.
"It was one of those surfaces that provides a great spectacle. It could have gone either way."
South Africa's batsmen apart from Hashim Amla and Rassie van der Dussen failed to build on starts after being put into bat in the face of a disciplined bowling effort from the Kiwis.
Amla was bowled for 55 by Mitchell Santner but Van der Dussen's unbeaten 67 off 64 balls gave the South Africans a respectable total to defend.
"We were aiming 260-270... we fell short," South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said. "We also had a lot of stop-start, stop-start innings but Kane batted through for the hundred and that was the game changer.
"We did everything we could, we threw ourselves around. The energy was unbelievable. Sure, there were some times that we dropped intensity. But Kane took it away from us."
The result left South Africa, who have won only one match, virtually out of the running for a semi-final spot while New Zealand kept their unbeaten run intact to move to the top of the standings with four wins in five games.
(Image-AFP)
