Cricket: No mistaking Kane Williamson's immense satisfaction

Kane Williamson celebrates with team mates after taking a catch to dismiss Bairstow. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

Kane Williamson was a chuffed New Zealand cricket captain last night.

He's not the type to stand on the table and whoop out a team song at the drop of a hat, but there was no mistaking the immense satisfaction at his team having done a fine allround job in beating England by an innings and 49 runs at Eden Park.

And the two, contrasting first innings laid the foundation – England all out 58, New Zealand 427 for eight declared.

''The first innings was the perfect storm,'' Williamson said.

''The boys put the ball in a beautiful area, found the edge and off stumps.

''Then for the guys to build those partnerships with the bat against an England bowling attack where runs were tough to come by [was outstanding].''

Todd Astle of New Zealand celebrates the final wicket of James Anderson of England to win the match. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

Williamson (102) and Henry Nicholls (145 not out) were the twin planks for New Zealand's innings, but there were other useful contributions from BJ Watling (31), Colin de Grandhomme (29) and Tim Southee (25) respectively while sharing stands of 54, 49 and 72 for the fifth, sixth and eighth wickets.

Williamson was impressed with the way his bowlers stuck at the job, especially through a middle period where no wickets were taken until the last over of the session.
''We were expecting the tough graft coming into today and England showed that,'' Williamson said.

''They fought hard and we applied that pressure and we stuck with them through that long game and pounced on those opportunities.''

The second test starts in Christchurch on Friday.

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