Cricket: Kane's champion knock

Kane Williamson set up an impressive win for Northern. Photo / File

If you're married to test cricket, Kane Williamson's unbeaten century against the Cape Cobras in the Champions League was enough to generate adulterous Twenty20 thoughts.

Forgive the hyperbole, but few centuries in the sport's most abridged format can have been more balanced, orthodox or imperious.

Williamson won't say it, so someone must. If he sustains anywhere near this sort of form through the World Cup, New Zealand, with the depth of bowling stocks being developed, will stand every chance of doing well. Northern Districts fans should also be encouraged.

Cricket disciples deserve a compelling reason for stumbling out of the scratcher at 2.30am, grabbing the dressing gown and slippers, stoking the fire and putting the kettle on. Williamson's innings, with useful support from Anton Devcich (67 from 46) and BJ Watling (32 from 20), exceeded expectations. Devcich and Watling also did their World Cup selection chances no harm.

The Cobras' ball was a moth to the flame of Williamson's bat. He struggled to miss. His team-mates could only sit and applaud.

The 24-year-old produced a roadworthy wagon wheel, such was his even distribution of strokes across the Raipur ground on the way to a 33-run Duckworth Lewis victory and ND's fourth in a row.

He was batting proof you don't need to be a cow-corner swatting lumberjack to excel at T20 cricket.

Before yesterday morning, the two T20 innings justifying instant recall were Ricky Ponting's 98 not out off 55 balls in the inaugural T20 international for Australia against New Zealand at Eden Park in 2005 and Brendon McCullum's 158 not out from 73 balls for Kolkata against Bangalore in 2008 during the IPL's opening match.

Ponting delivered subtlety, McCullum wielded muscle. But both knocks were leg-side weighted. Ponting's 98 was split 37/61; McCullum's 158 was 44/114.

Williamson's split was 48/53 with a slight skew to working deliveries for singles between midwicket and square leg. His 101 came off 49 balls, 42 of which provided scoring shots. Four of his seven dots came in his first seven balls.

Williamson might have caressed the ball around the ground but he slayed the myth that T20 and stroke-making don't mix.

There was minimum power and maximum timing and the ball soared beyond the boundary rope five times.

The innings will have given other Champions League and international teams asking video analysts to add extra hours to their timesheets.

Conversely, ND should fear little if Williamson, who's scored 52, 14 and 53 in his other three innings, is dismissed early with pool matches to come against Kings XI Punjab and the Hobart Hurricanes.

Devcich and Watling provided evidence of their form yesterday and Daniel Flynn, Scott Styris and Daryl Mitchell are capable of delivering, despite cheap late dismissals.

Tim Southee and Trent Boult have also formed a formidable partnership with the ball across all formats.

Williamson's biggest dilemma now appears to be whether to accept an IPL contract when the franchise moguls come knocking, or maintain his first-class ambitions in England during international off-seasons.

What a dilemma to have.