The Black Caps found a way to lose to Zimbabwe after posting 328-5 but Kane Williamson was one player who can be proud of his performance.
Before yesterday's third one-day international, Williamson's time at the crease during New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe had spanned only 18 balls.
The 21-year-old right-hander wasn't required to bat in either of the twenty20s, or the first one-dayer, and played only a cameo in the second 50-over encounter.
But Williamson was given 69 balls to play with yesterday and he made them count, stroking an unbeaten century to give his confidence a boost ahead of next week's one-off test match with the African side.
Generally regarded as having the potential to be a future New Zealand skipper, Williamson batted with the incumbent, Ross Taylor, as they combined for a record 195-run partnership for the fifth wicket and laid the platform for the Black Caps' big score at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, only for Zimbabwe to somehow overhaul it in the 50th over.
"It's always a bit of a sour feeling when you contribute but the team doesn't win,'' Williamson said. "It was pleasing to spend some time in the middle.''
Williamson's knock was his second one-day hundred after his 108 against Bangladesh last year, which also came in a losing effort.
The ton boosted his average to just under 39 from 18 50-over internationals and the 69-ball hundred was the second-fastest by a New Zealander in a one-dayer behind Craig McMillan's 67-ball effort against Australia in 2007.
Now Williamson hopes to get the nod for New Zealand's next two assignments, also at the Queens Sports Club. New Zealand meet a Zimbabwe XI in a two-day tour match tomorrow before next week's test match, which starts on Tuesday.
"I think it's important that we realise that in most aspects we are playing good cricket and we don't dwell on it too much,'' said Williamson.
No comments:
Post a Comment