Watch: In his second comeback match of the World Cup, Kane Williamson slammed two consecutive boundaries off Iftikhar Ahmed en route to a brilliant 95.
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Kane Williamson had not played professional cricket since he had picked up an injury in the opening match of the 2023 IPL. Despite that, New Zealand Cricket had retained him in their squad for the 2023 World Cup.
New Zealand had beaten England and the Netherlands in their first two matches of the World Cup in Williamson’s absence. On comeback, against Bangladesh, he made 78 when a throw he was hit on the thumb by a throw and had to retire hurt.
Subsequent scans revealed a fracture, and Williamson missed New Zealand’s matches next three matches as well. After beating Afghanistan, they lost consecutive matches against India, Australia, and South Africa to slip to fourth place on the points table.
Williamson returned for the key clash against Pakistan, and walked out to bat when New Zealand 68-1 in 10.5 overs. He made a dazzling 95 in 79 balls, studded with 10 fours and two sixes, helping Rachin Ravindra (108 in 95 balls) put on 183 for the second wicket.
Pakistan had gone in with four fast bowlers, backing their part-time spinners – Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Agha, and Saud Shakeel – to share the role of the fifth bowler.
Iftikhar had conceded 30 from his first five overs. In his sixth, Williamson and Ravindra ran a single each. Then Williamson stepped out and dismissed the third ball to the extra-cover fence. Not content, he slog-swept the next ball to the mid-wicket fence. And after he ran a single, Ravindra cut the last ball of the over for four.
At the time of writing, New Zealand were 261-3 in 36 overs. At the crease were Daryl Mitchell (3) and Mark Chapman (0).
Watch Kane Williamson hit Iftikhar Ahmed for back-to-back boundaries:
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