New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was full of praise for his players for putting in a lion-hearted effort in the final of the World Test Championship against India at Ageas Bowl, Southampton. The Kiwis went on to win the inaugural ICC WTC title as they defeated India by eight wickets in the final.
Williamson scored 52 runs whereas Taylor contributed with 47 runs as the experienced duo added 96 runs for the third wicket to help their team chase down 139 runs with ease.
Meanwhile, the morning session was the turning point of the game as New Zealand scalped three wickets and conceded only 66 runs. India lost five wickets in the second session and could only set up a paltry target of 139 runs in the end, which was way below par.
Kane Williamson said in the post-match presentation, “The heart that our team showed was commendable. It’s the first time we have come away with a world title, and the 22 players who played a big part in getting across the line deserve all the appreciation. This will be remembered for a long time. We don’t always have all the stars, and we saw that in this match”.
He added, “We saw so much heart and commitment. We know how strong the Indian side is, in all conditions. It’s a fickle game, in a one-off final. It ebbed and flowed, no one really had the upper hand for six days, and I’m happy we’re on the right side of it. It was certainly tough going in the first innings. The lower order played with more freedom and got us a lead that gave us an edge. Ross is obviously very experienced and calm in these situations and it was great to be with him right there at the end”.
New Zealand were able to come up with a collective effort and they were the better side in the big match. Kyle Jamieson was the pick of the bowlers and the lanky paceman was awarded the Player of the match. The Kiwis were able to create history and a lot of credit goes to Kane Williamson for leading the team from the front.
