New Zealand Run-Machine Kane Williamson Keeps Firing
Kane Williamson has asserted his status as New Zealand's prime batsman ahead of the World Cup, having amassed more than 1000 runs in 16 innings since the India series at home last year.
Kane Williamson just can't stop scoring. The 24-year-old batsman was in the thick of things yet again as New Zealand crushed Pakistan in the second ODI in Napier to sweep the ODI series 2-0.(Match Report)
On Tuesday, Williamson pummeled the Pakistani bowling to reach his sixth ODI hundred. He amassed 112 off 88 balls to power New Zealand to a massive 369/5 in the fifty overs. Williamson took a special liking towards Bilawal Bhatti scoring at a strike rate of 127.27, which is his second highest in a 100-plus innings. His highest strike rate however, was 144.92 during his unbeaten 100 off 69 balls vs Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in October 2011.
Williamson has been in phenomenal form over the last 18 months and has managed three successive innings 90-plus scores against Pakistan in ODIs. In six ODI innings in 2015, Williamson has amassed 407 runs at an average of 67.83, including two hundreds and two fifties.
Former India captain Rahul Dravid, no stranger to consistency himself, is impressed with the way Williamson has shaped up before the World Cup and he feels the rising star could be a potent force for the Black Caps in cricket's showpiece event.
"These are incredible numbers. Williamson's going to be very much the key around which New Zealand's batting revolves," Dravid told ESPNCricinfo. "They rely on him to bat through the middle around whom a lot of the stroke-makers can bat. He is a brilliant player of spin bowling. He is very creative as well and he can score quickly without looking like he is actually taking risks."
Williamson's 112 is his second ton on home soil. He also notched up his highest score in ODIs in New Zealand eclipsing the 103 against Sri Lanka at Nelson on January, 2015. This knock also earned Williamson his third Man-of-the-Match award against Pakistan.
Dubbed as the next great Kiwi batsman after Martin Crowe, Williamson heads into the World Cup as one of the most exciting batsmen to look out for and will play a massive role in securing the much coveted dream of the Black Caps winning the World Cup.