In the age of T20 cricket where fours and sixes are hit at will on flat pitches, the importance of a dive is often neglected. But had MS Dhoni or Harmanpreet Kaur dived in men’s ODI World Cup 2019 semi-final and women’s T20 World Cup 2023 respectively, India would have had a chance to qualify for two finals. Former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson at Hagley Oval, Christchurch showed how important it is to put in a perfect full-stretch dive. It will go down probably as Williamson’s best dive of his career since he made his international debut in 2010.
Williamson had played a patient knock on Day 5 in the run chase of 285 against Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka. He had completed his century, run hard between the wickets when the nine fielders were spread out in the final few overs to stop the boundary. In the final over, New Zealand needed eight runs to win. The hosts lost a wicket as Matt Henry got run out trying to get the second run.
Williamson managed to thread through the fielders and hit a boundary behind square. With one run needed off the final two balls, Asitha Fernando bowled a short delivery and umpire did not signal a wide despite it being over Williamson’s head. Fernando followed it up with a slower bouncer which missed Williamson’s bat. He ran to take a bye. Niroshan Dickwella missed the stumps, Fernando caught hold the ball and threw it towards non-striker’s stumps.
The ball hit the stumps but Williamson did not look back and put in a full stretched dive. In real time it looked like Williamson may be a little short of the crease but the replay showed that he had made his ground, but only just. The crowd on Monday evening erupted in joy as Williamson celebrated the three-wicket win that stunned the visitors in a game that went right down to the wire.
A dive into history
Williamson’s unbeaten 121 helped New Zealand create history. This is only the second win off the last ball of a Test match. The last Test win off the last ball came in 2018. George Mann-led England side chased down the target with just two wickets in hand at Durban.
