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Picture Credit: Twitter

Kane Williamson has always been a touch and elegant player. While these qualities are rarely looked at while looking for a game-changer in the T20 format, the New Zealand captain displayed at the biggest stage of it all that textbook cricketing strokes alone can help a batter achieve even if it is a 120-ball per innings game.

The New Zealand captain pretty much single-handedly has taken the Black Caps to a competitive score with a masterclass of an 85 from 48 balls. His innings comprised of 10 boundaries and 3 sixes as he scored at a strike rate of 177.08 after scoring at under 100 coming into the final of what had been an underwhelming tournament for him as a batter.

What made the innings more special was the fact that Williamson seemed to be struggling initially and was batting on 15 from 16 balls at one stage. However, yet he managed to change gears dramatically that too without a hint of a slog shot. Williamson was also given a life when a catch of his was put down by Josh Hazlewood on 21 but the Kiwi skipper made it count and finished on 85- which is now the joint highest individual score in a T20 World Cup final.

Earlier Marlon Samuels had also scored the exact same number of runs in the final. Riding on his innings, New Zealand have posted 172/4 in their 20 overs and would now hope to win their second ICC trophy in 2021 after beating India in the World Test Championship final earlier this year.

Check out how Twitter reacted to Williamson's masterclass:

 

Both Australia and New Zealand are yet to win a T20 World Cup as yet which suggests that the Aussies would come down hard in the run chase, They also seem to be at an advantage with dew likely to come in later, making it difficult for the Kiwi bowlers to grip the ball.

On 11 out of 12 occasions, the team batting second has won a match at this venue in this tournament but given that a world title is at stake, it is not going to be easy for Australia.