(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] New Zealand captain and star batter Kane Williamson played a remarkable innings against Pakistan in the 35th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Saturday at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The Kiwi became the third New Zealand player to record 1,000 runs in ODI World Cups, following former Black Caps batters Stephen Fleming and Ross Taylor. Williamson took only 24 innings to amass 1,084 runs with an average of 63.76 in the ICC ODI World Cups, while Fleming took 33 innings to score 1,075 runs, and Taylor took 30 innings to achieve 1,002 runs.
Williamson also became the highest run-scorer for New Zealand in the ODI World Cups.
Williamson missed his third ODI World Cup century marginally as the 33-year-old batsman was dismissed by Pakistan spinner Iftikhar Ahmed after scoring 95 runs off 79 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, with a strike rate of 120.25.
Notably, Williamson is playing only his second match of the ongoing World Cup, and in both games, he has scored fifties. He gathered 78 runs off 107 balls against Bangladesh in the same tournament, and on Saturday, he once again played a vital knock for his team. In the 2023 World Cup, Williamson has scored 173 runs in two innings.
Williamson returned to the playing XI after recovering from his thumb injury and led the team from the front. With the help of Rachin Ravindra and Williamson, New Zealand posted a total of 401 runs on the board at the loss of six wickets against Men in Green.