3 memorable wins from Kane Williamson's captaincy stint for New Zealand - Cricket Winner

The cricketing world was rocked by a surprising announcement from the long-standing New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson. He stepped away from his illustrious captaincy career and declined to enter the 2024-25 Central Contract.

This marked the end of an era, the Fab-4 (Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root & Kane Williamson), with each player leaving an indelible mark with their batting and leadership. In this piece, we delve into the top matches that the cricketing world has witnessed under the guidance of one of New Zealand’s finest captains, Kane Williamson.

1. A triumphant win against a powerhouse in the inaugural World Test Championship

After winning their first-ever major ICC tournament in the 2000 Champions Trophy, New Zealand had a long-run dry spell of obtaining successes with big tournaments like the T20 World Cup and the 50-over Cricket World Cup. But, with the intent, calibre and calm composure, Kane Williamson led to the Black Cap’s first-ever World Test Championship in the inaugural 2021 edition.

The Black Caps controlled the match against India, winning by eight wickets. Kane Williamson had several unforgettable moments as captain of the New Zealand squad, but winning the inaugural ICC World Test Championship with his side was perhaps the highlight.

2. Making the team reach its second-ever Cricket World Cup final

The Black Caps advanced to their second consecutive ODI World Cup final in 2019, having lost the 2015 edition. Though captain Kane Williamson could not lead the squad to victory against England. He received praise from fans and experts for his leadership and was named Player of the Tournament. After an exciting Super Over thriller, England was named world champions in a contentious final.

Both teams scored 15 runs in the Super Over, but New Zealand lost because England hit more boundaries than the Kiwis. Many fanatics showed their love and sympathy for the loss, but he just smiled it off in the end. This signifies his attitude of giving your best and embracing and accepting the results which are not in the hands of one.

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3. Leading New Zealand to its first-ever T20 World Cup Final

Kane Williamson guided the Black Caps to the 2021 T20 World Cup final after losing their first game against Pakistan. The squad went on to win their last four group matches and quickly advanced to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the Kiwis overcame England and faced Australia in the final.

Williamson scored 85 runs off 48 deliveries in the top battle, helping the team to a respectable 172-run victory. New w Zealand could not defend the score and lost the final. However, Williamson became the first Kiwi skipper to reach the final of the T20 World Cup. This symbolises Williamson’s calm and composed gameplay, which is synonymous with its winning and 100% effort attitude.