Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s veteran batter, endured a bizarre and frustrating dismissal on Day 1 of the third Test against England on December 14. In an unusual turn of events, Williamson inadvertently kicked the ball onto his stumps, leaving him dismissed by England pacer Matthew Potts. The incident was as surprising as it was unfortunate, even for the usually composed Williamson.
New Zealand began the day strongly with a 105-run opening partnership between Will Young and skipper Tom Latham. Williamson, coming in at No. 3, carried forward the momentum with a determined knock of 44 off 87 balls. However, his innings came to a dramatic end when a delivery from Potts deflected off his pads and bounced off towards the stumps. In a reflexive attempt to block the ball with his leg, Williamson accidentally nudged it into the stumps, leaving him stunned and visibly frustrated.
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Williamson’s reaction—head hung low and a dismayed expression—reflected the oddity and disappointment of the moment. His dismissal marked a turning point in New Zealand’s innings, as England capitalised on the breakthrough to take wickets in quick succession.
Despite the openers’ promising start, New Zealand collapsed from 105/1 to 232/7 by the middle of the third session. Williamson’s knock remained the last significant resistance from the BlackCaps’ top order, as the middle and lower order struggled against England’s disciplined bowling attack.
Heading into the final Test of the series, New Zealand aimed to avoid a home whitewash after losing the first two matches. However, the hosts’ inability to build on their strong opening partnership left them in a precarious position. With only Williamson showing signs of resilience before his unlucky dismissal, New Zealand now face an uphill battle to post a competitive first-innings total at Hamilton.
The unusual nature of Williamson’s dismissal has added another chapter to the annals of cricketing quirks, while New Zealand will need a substantial recovery effort to remain competitive in the match.
Published By:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published On:
Dec 14, 2024
Belgium
