Kane Williamson has proved to be a thorn in the flesh for many countries and South Africa is no different. Batting in tough conditions, Kane Williamson battled it out and finally completed his half-century as well. Furthermore, completing his half-century saw him etch his name in history. Through his knock against India, Kane Williamson became the Kiwi player with the most 50+ scores for NZ against IND in ODIs. This was his 12th time scoring 50+ runs against India in ODI cricket.
It is worth noting that Kane Williamson went on to score 81 runs in 120 deliveries before he was sent packing by Axar Patel. Time and time again, Kane Williamson has proven himself as one of the biggest threats to the Indian team in the format, and the final group stage clash of the Champions Trophy was a similar story as well. Late-cut, sweep and backfoot punch are Kane Williamson’s characteristic strokes and could well come in play in the semifinal against South Africa in the Champions Trophy in Lahore on Wednesday.
Kane Williamson and his masterstroke with the bat a pleasant scene for eyes to watch
Kane Williamson remembers the moment from the 2019 World Cup game against South Africa rather well. The equation had read 12 runs needed from seven balls, and Lungi Ngidi was in the midst of an inspiring over. A boundary was needed. Guess what shot Kane Williamson went for. A late cut. He let the ball come to him, arresting all urges and twitches to the contrary, and as the ball squeezed between short third man and the wicketkeeper, South African hopes sank.
It’s the kind of shot that Kane Williamson is likely to deploy in the semifinal – the least-risk well-honed strokes that he is known for – three strokes in particular: the late cut, the back-foot punch, and the sweep.
“That shot is what comes to mind when I think about the late-cuts I played,” Kane Williamson told The Indian Express much before the ICC Champions Trophy, where New Zealand will face South Africa in Wednesday’s semifinal.
It’s not even a late-cut, the way he plays it. The master of the late cut in the 1990s, Arjuna Ranatunga took the riskier option; the bat-face would open and just before impact, it would seem the off-stump could get knocked back. Kane Williamson has also tamed the shot.
A year after he downed South Africa, he would use that shot to good effect in the IPL against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The bowler was Navdeep Saini and Virat Kohli had set the field with a short third and men at extra cover suggested he was expecting an on-the-up punch. Kane Williamson remembers that shot as well.
The second shot Kane Williamson often deploys is the sweep against the spinners. Sometimes he shuffles to the off-side and tries to access the area behind square. South Africa have a left-arm spinner in Keshav Maharaj and the wristy one in Tabraiz Shamsi. Then there is that classic Kane Williamson backfoot punch to the seamers. He doesn’t play the horizontal version, but gets close to the ball, rather lets it get close to him, and plays it very late. Sometimes he even gets both feet in the air, and still nails it.
All the three shots could come into play on a batting-friendly surface in Lahore. If they come off, New Zealand could well be the ones challenging India on a slower surface where the expertise and experience of Kane Williamson, as he showed in the last league game, would be most valuable. South African skipper Temba Bavuma in his pre presser also stressed the importance of Kane Williamson’s wicket if they want to win the semi final vs New Zealand
Kane Williamson Has Been A Thorn In Our Side’: Temba Bavuma Outlines Gameplan For Semi-Final Against NZ
SA skipper Bavuma did not feel that New Zealand would be low on confidence in the semi-final due to their defeat to India in Dubai on Sunday.
Kane Williamson has proved to be a thorn in our flesh, said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma on Tuesday, adding that his team has outlined plans to stop the New Zealand batting mainstay in the second semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy here. Kane Williamson, who scored 81 in a losing cause against India in the final league match, has hit centuries in his last two ODIs against South Africa, including an unbeaten 133 in Lahore last month during the tri-nation series.
Speaking on tackling New Zealand’s premier batter Kane Williamson, Bavuma admitted that he has always been a “thorn” for Proteas, and they do have plans against him. In 18 ODIs against Proteas, he has made 803 runs at an average of 57.35, with three centuries and three fifties.
“Yes, he (Williamson) has been a thorn in our side and we have some plans for him. We need to raise our intensity when he comes into bat,” he said at a media conference.
“We have a plan for him but in the end, we have to see how well we can execute our plans tomorrow.”
Bavuma did not feel that New Zealand would be low on confidence in the semi-final due to their defeat to India in Dubai on Sunday.
“They have won all their matches in Pakistan and they are well balanced, so I don’t think the defeat to India would have affected their confidence,” he said.
Asked if he would like to play the CT final in Lahore or Dubai, Bavuma said that India was currently a powerful side in the tournament but they are focusing on the semi-final for now.
Asked about his views on South Africa and Australia having to travel to Dubai just to find out where they will play the semi-final, Bavuma said it was not ideal, but there was nothing they could have done about it, considering the logistics and details of the tournament.
South Africa have been dealing with a series of injuries, with Aiden Markram being the latest to suffer a hamstring injury, forcing them to bring in left-arm spin all-rounder George Linde as a cover.
“Linde is here just in case, but Aiden Markram will have a fitness test today, while I and Tony (de Zorzi) are feeling much better from our bout of illness,” said Bavuma, who, along with Tony, had been down with illness.
Speaking on playing New Zealand in the tri-series in Pakistan before the Champions Trophy, Bavuma said that the tournament gave them a look at the Kiwis’ side.
“I do not think it will be too far from what they will put out tomorrow. Obviously, from our side, it will be different members from that team, so I guess there is a difference there. Obviously, the conditions as well, the dimensions, when we played here the last time, there was one short side and one big side, so I think it is just expecting that. And obviously, the nature of the wicket as well.
When we played, it was a good wicket. The last game that we played here, I think it was Australia and Afghanistan, the ball swung quite a bit, so maybe that is something different. So, I think it is just more intel, really and getting a proper look at the team members,” he concluded.
India will now await the result of the second semifinal on Wednesday as they gear up for the summit clash in Dubai on Sunday. India will play the winner of the second semifinal between New Zealand and South Africa, set to be played in Lahore on Wednesday, in the final on March 9.