New Zealand legendary player and former captain Kane Williamson has decided to retire from T20Is. He has done so with immediate effect in order to prolong his ODI and Test career and spend time with his young family. Kane Williamson was an under-rated but giant player in T20Is and he has played many knocks that has given all cricket lovers goosebumps and something to cheer about. Kane Williamson is an all-time great for sure. We will try and give you three best knocks of Kane Williamson in T20Is.
3. 72 off 46 balls vs England, Trans-Tasman T20I Tri-Series 2018, Wellington.
For his third best knock in T20Is, we go back to the year 2018 where New Zealand hosted a cricket tri-series against Australia and England. Australia were the standout team and did really well to win most of the games. But New Zealand managed to win a solitary game. Even though they did not win many games, they managed to get into the final because England’s score wasn’t great.
The game that New Zealand won was due to the brilliance of Kane Williamson and the opponents were England. Kane struggled through that series but in this game, it was the vintage Kane Williamson that we know and have come across over the years. Kane Williamson was a man possessed on this day in Wellington and scored a magnificent 72 off 46 balls. He hit four boundaries and four maximums and this innings from Kane helped New Zealand post 196 while batting first. The score proved to be adequate as New Zealand won the contest.
This innings really reaffirmed the class and greatness of Kane Williamson as he showed great hunger and adaptability to play the shortest format and dominate over there against other teams. Kane was at his best on that lovely evening in Wellington.
2. 51 off 35 balls vs South Africa in Bangladesh, T20 World Cup 2014.
For this knock, we go back in time to 2014 and in the month of March, April for the T20 World Cup that was staged in Bangladesh. Bangladesh hosted the World Cup and this particular game took place in Chattogram. Kane Williamson played his 15th T20I match against South Africa. South Africa batted first and scored a very competitive 170 runs. The New Zealand cricket team had to face tough times chasing it because South Africa had world class bowlers like Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Albie Morkel.
It was here then that the legend stood up as Kane Williamson stood there and played really well. He scored 51 off 35 balls as he hit the ball hard against Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. This gave New Zealand a good start and they seemed to have a chance of winning at one point of time. However, later in the game and in his second spell, Dale Steyn took four wickets which turned the game around. With 9 needed off the final over, Dale Steyn with ball in hand held his nerve as New Zealand lost the game by 2 runs.
Despite being on the losing side, this game showed at a young age, what Williamson would turn out to be and the talent that he had within him as he played orthodox shots throughout. This innings epitomised Williamson’s greatness.
1. 85 off 48 balls vs Australia in the 2021 T20 World Cup Final in Dubai.
We have saved the best knock for the last as for his greatest T20I knock ever we take you back to the year 2021 and it was the summit clash of the tournament as New Zealand faced their Trans-Tasman rivals Australia in the final. New Zealand were put into bat first by Australia and this is where the then New Zealand captain Kane Williamson stood up. The end result might have been different and the Kiwis lost in the end, but Kane was brilliant to say the least.
Kane Williamson scored an impressive 85 off 48 balls on a pitch and on a day where other bowlers struggled to score against Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc. Williamson played a lone hand one can say as his innings of 85 off 68 balls helped his team post 168 runs on the board. That did not prove enough as dew settled in Dubai and Australia chased it down with an over to spare. Even though New Zealand lost, Kane Williamson’s performance was outstanding and had there been more support they would have won the match.
This innings highlighted his greatness as a clutch player and scoring when the team is under pressure. Kane Williamson passed all these Tests with flying colours and showed that he is more than just a utility player in the shortest format of the game.