New Zealand cricketing great Martin Crowe selflessly described Kane Williamson's form this summer as the "dawn of probably our greatest ever batsman". The way Williamson created 112 off 88 balls in the second one-day international against Pakistan made it feel like his development clock might have ticked towards brunch.
If Williamson was the architect of New Zealand's 369 for five at McLean Park, Ross Taylor delivered the final landscaping with 102 from 70 balls. He brought up his 12th ODI century and the 100th by a New Zealander from the final ball in his 150th ODI.
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 119 runs.
In essence the performance was another blueprint of what is required for World Cup success. Big runs equate to big pressure. New Zealand's total was the second highest at the venue, justifying the decision to bat. It's hard for any team to cope when the required run rate looks like an inflation graph from the 1970s.
The bowlers had initial difficulty controlling the Pakistani openers Ahmed Shehzad (55 off 62 balls) and Mohammad Hafeez (86 off 89) but patience won the day. The slide began at 111 and, by the time Daniel Vettori's had Shahid Afridi caught at deep cover for 11 to make it 187 for four in the 33rd over, the result seemed a fait accompli. Vettori's Uncle $crooge contribution of one for 41, including 31 dot balls, was the vital bowling performance. He was the most economical bowler with Trent Boult the only other to go under five-an-over.
