NZ vs WI, 1st Test: Watching Williamson bat is therapeutic, says Jaffer
Dec 03, 2020
Hamilton [New Zealand], December 3 : Kane Williamson's calm and composed unbeaten 97-run knock has put New Zealand in the driver's seat against West Indies on Day One of the first Test. The skipper looked in full control of his innings and attracted praise from former India opener Wasim Jaffer, who said watching Williamson bat is 'therapeutic'.
"Watching Kane Williamson bat is therapeutic. #NZvWI," Jaffer tweeted.
At stumps, New Zealand's score read 243/2 with Williamson and Ross Taylor (31*) at the crease. With rain delaying the start on the opening morning, Windies, who elected to bowl first, got an immediate reward in the form of debutant Will Young's wicket with Shannon Gabriel dismissing him in the fourth over.
Williamson then joined Latham and the duo started rebuilding the Kiwi innings. Their patient knocks carried New Zealand to the end of the opening session with an 85-run stand. Latham's resilience saw him scoring his 19th Test fifty as New Zealand looked steady on the first day after an early blow.
Meanwhile, Williamson completed 1,000 Test runs at Seddon Park. He joined Taylor as the only cricketers with 1,000 or more runs at the venue.
Kemar Roach finally ended Latham's (86) stint at the crease as the 154-run partnership between Williamson and Latham came to an end against the run of play. Taylor and Williamson ensured New Zealand didn't suffer any further loss.
Personally for Williamson, this is his 33rd Test as captain moving him ahead of Daniel Vettori (32 Tests) into third on the all-time New Zealand skipper list. Former skipper Stephen Fleming leads the list with 80 Tests as captain followed by JR Reid with 34 Tests. Brendon McCullum is fifth on the list with 31 Tests.
