Cricketers of the week: 5th March - 11th March

#3 Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Williamson led from the front with a captain’s knock.

New Zealand skipper played a brilliant knock, holding together the innings during tricky times. Williamson scored a 241-ball 130 adding 102 for the second wicket with Jeet Raval. New Zealand were in some trouble at 193 for 5 and Ross Taylor had retired hurt. But, the skipper added an impressive 84 runs for the sixth wicket with wicket-keeper BJ Watling who scored a half-century.

Williamson’s knock was the backbone for a New Zealand score that crossed 300 and gained a 33-run lead. Not only did that help New Zealand stave away a powerful South Africa side until day 4 but also gave them a genuine chance of winning the game.

Williamson’s knock was contextually even more important considering it was the first Test of the series and the home team was under pressure, given SA’s away record. The second highest knock in the New Zealand innings was Raval’s 52.