When Kane Williamson sealed dramatic win with massive six

Kane Williamson is inarguably one of the most technically composed batsmen in contemporary cricket. He is currently New Zealand’s best batsman for Tests and One-Day International (ODI) format. He corroborated the above belief in the nail-biting encounter of the 20th game of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 between New Zealand and Australia at Auckland.

Batting first Australia posted a modest total of 151 runs and were bowled out inside 24 overs. Trent Boult had a beautiful outing with the ball as he scalped five wickets and was equally supported by Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee. They created a big upset as Australia were expected to score lot better than what they did.

Chasing 152 on their home ground was never a tough ask for New Zealand as they were in good form too. They were coming to this game with three back to back wins. Brendon McCullum was in scintillating form as he astounded everyone with his explosive batting at the top. New Zealand started off on a promising note as McCullum fired with all guns and scored a quick fifty in just 24 deliveries. But just after McCullum’s wicket, Mitchell Starc ripped through New Zealand’s batting line up and accounted for six wickets and almost won the game for Australia. But Williamson was still batting at the crease carried his team over the line. Starc was the sole reason behind this match going on to be an anxious one.

New Zealand were 145 for six when Pat Cummins got the better of Daniel Vettori and the hosts were now seven wickets down and needed seven more runs with plenty of deliveries to play. Starc came to bowl the 23rd over and Williamson was on strike, the latter made a mistake of running a single on the second delivery of the over and exposed the tail to lethal Starc. The left-handed deadly bowler bowled two beautiful Yorkers to Adam Milne and Time Southee and shattered their stumps on two consecutive deliveries. Australia were now just a wicket away from a thrilling victory while New Zealand needed just six runs with a solitary wicket in hand.

Trent Boult somehow managed to sustain the next two deliveries from Starc and ensured Williamson faced the next over. Cummins came on to bowl the decisive over but Williamson was all set to make up for his mistake. He wasted no time as he made room and smashed a massive six over long-on on the very first delivery of the over to see New Zealand romping home with another victory.

Williamson earned massive applaud as New Zealand almost lost the game whereas Starc and co were heartbroken as they nearly snatched an implausible victory. This was one of the most nerve-racking game of the tournaments, probably the best. Some immaculate bowling stunned everyone but in the end a hit from Williamson sealed the game. He remained unbeaten on 45 and probably played one of the most memorable knocks of his career.

New Zealand and Australia once again met in the finals of the coveted tournament where Starc once again made the difference with the ball as he got rid of the in-from McCullum in the very first over. Australia won the final for the record fifth time in their cricket chronicle.

(Suraj Choudhari, an avid cricket follower who plays the sport at club level, is a staffer with Criclife)