Cricket: Williamson proud of one-day job

Kane Williamson on his way to 90 in the series-winning third ODI against Zimbabwe on Friday. Photo / File

Tauranga's cricketing superstar Kane Williamson captained the Black Caps to a 2-1 ODI series win over Zimbabwe on his 25th birthday on Friday.

He celebrated by winning the Man of the Series after scores of 97 and 90, his sixth scores in the 90s to go with seven centuries.

His conversion rate is inferior to the world's other young batting stars he is compared to, in Virat Koli, Joe Root and Steven Smith, but he is not interested in personal milestones. "My focus is to go out and play the situation, and try and contribute to a team performance," Williamson said from Zimbabwe. "If that is having to play some shots when you are getting close to 100, then so be it.

"It is nice to have contributed to a series win, which was toughly fought and very competitive. Both teams played well. It was nice that we were progressing through the series and improving. In saying that, Zimbabwe kept putting us under pressure in a very closely fought series."

After losing the first ODI when Zimbabwe chased down 303, the Black Caps were in a similar situation defending the third game on Friday.

"We got to drinks and we spoke about a bit of deja vu from the first game and wanting to make sure we did things a little bit differently," Williamson said. "We knew if we put them under a bit of pressure, bowled tightly for a period of time, then you could pick up wickets. You weren't going to blast them out so it was a bit of a patience game. And it was really pleasing to see the way the boys went about their business and sealed off a series win."

The Black Caps fielded superbly in the final ODI, which Williamson says is something they pride themselves on.

"There was a lot of discussion after the first game. Zimbabwe played outstanding and blew us off the park, but something we can control is the way we go about our fielding. That is something we want to continue doing going into the next Twenty20, and continue on into following series."

Williamson will lead the Black Caps in two Twenty20 matches and three ODIs against South Africa, beginning on Saturday (NZ time) with the first Twenty20 game from Durban.

But he laughed off any suggestions that he will lead the Black Caps once Brendon McCullum returns.

"It is always a privilege to get to do the job and it is something that I enjoy but it is not a focus of mine. When Brendon comes back I will stop captaining. If he is not then I may get another go, but that's fine."