Williamson defies terrifying pitch against Windies

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has cemented his standing as one of many most interesting Take a look at batsmen on this planet, defying a inexperienced pitch to place his facet in management towards the West Indies.

After being inserted into bat on the inexperienced high at Seddon Park in Hamilton, Williamson’s 154-run stand with opener Tom Latham offered the spine for New Zealand’s 2-243 at stumps on day one.

Whereas Latham perished on 86, Williamson completed the day unbeaten on 97 after setting a formidable platform for his facet on a pitch which seemed to be straight from a batsman’s nightmare.

New Zealand is not any stranger to the odd inexperienced high, however the Seddon Park wicket was virtually one thing by no means seen, with the pitch barely distinguishable from the the outfield because of a thick layer of grass on the service.

“Should you mentioned to us this morning we might be 240-odd for 2 we might clearly take that,” Latham mentioned after stumps.

“The wicket was a bit inexperienced and we have come to count on that of wickets right here in New Zealand and we managed to do plenty of arduous work right this moment.

“They most likely bowled a fraction brief on a wicket that was providing a bit of little bit of help, so we have been allowed to depart balls on size.

“Regardless that the wickets are historically very inexperienced on day one right here in New Zealand, they do not appear to do as a lot as you’d most likely assume.”

Williamson’s love affair with Seddon Park was illustrated by a few trademark back-foot pictures within the first session, tiptoeing himself to full top and punching the ball with the pace and effectiveness of a Muhammad Ali jab.

His willpower to not lose focus was additionally on show when telling himself off for enjoying at a ball he may have left with restricted footwork.

Latham had a few lives quickly earlier than his dismissal – a missed run-out likelihood when he forgot concerning the adage of by no means operating on a misfield and an edge over the slips cordon.

His luck ran out when Kemar Roach – whose father died this week – produced a tremendous supply which nicked the within edge earlier than castling into the stumps.

The guests have been additionally in a position to get some late swing with new man Ross Taylor on the crease but it surely was the opening hour that dictated their disheartening place at stumps, not helped by star batsman Darren Bravo being taken off on a medicab after struggling what appeared a severe leg harm within the final half-hour.

– With Stuff.co.nz