‘His character stood out, incredible knock’: Kane Williamson's massive praise for New Zealand batter
T20 World Cup: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson reserved high praise for Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham after his side entered the final with a 5-wicket win over England.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson lauded Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham after the BlackCaps registered an incredible 5-wicket victory over England to secure berth in the 2021 T20 World Cup final. The Kiwis made a shaky start to the 167-run chase in the game, losing two wickets in the first-three overs including that of Williamson, but Mitchell (72*), alongside Devon Conway (46) and James Neesham (27) steered New Zealand to their first-ever final in the tournament's history.
Talking about Mitchell, Williamson said that his character stood out in the game.
“It was an outstanding knock by him, he stood there throughout and built little partnerships, tried to cash-in on small moments. A brilliant knock,” Williamson said in the post-match presentation.
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“His character has definitely stood out today, and in pretty much every game. It's an incredible knock, he's a real quality there and he has come out beautifully in a high-pressure situation.”
The New Zealand skipper also praised James Neesham, who played an important cameo knock (27 off 11 deliveries). His innings turned the tide in New Zealand's favour as the side won with an over remaining.
“He (Neesham) came out and hit the ball hard, that's what he does. It was a really valuable knock for us, it changed the momentum of the game really. It was a clever, strong hitting at the backend, which was ultimately the deciding factor,” said Williamson.
“It's the game of small pieces, and you always try to win those winning moments.”
New Zealand will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan and Australia in the summit clash on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.
