The cricket enthusiasts are enjoying some thrilling Test matches this time. Just like India and England, South Africa and New Zealand are locking horns in a Test series. The Test series become more interesting because of Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra’s classic tons in the first innings. After scoring their maiden ton in the Test, Rachin Ravindra opened up about his feelings.
Phenomenal Hundreds by Williamson and Rachin:
In the first Test against South Africa at the Bay Oval, Kane Williamson, the top-ranked Test batter globally, achieved his 30th century. Partnering with Rachin Ravindra, who secured his maiden century, they formed an unbroken 219-run stand for the third wicket. This dominant partnership propelled New Zealand to 258/2 by stumps, outplaying an inexperienced South African bowling lineup.
The duo joined forces when New Zealand faced early troubles at 39/2, with Tshepo Moreki dismissing Devon Conway and Dane Peterson ending Tom Latham’s brisk start at 20. Williamson’s century surpassed cricket greats Don Bradman and Virat Kohli, who each have 29 Test centuries. Ravindra is set to continue batting with an impressive 118 not out, while Williamson remains unbeaten with a score of 112.
Rachin Ravindra’s Words:
Rachin Ravindra is a classic player of New Zealand. In the ODI World Cup, he showcased his excellence. Now, it was the time for the longest format of cricket. Against South Africa, he registered his maiden Test hundred. While scoring the century, he was sharing the stage with his idol Kane Williamson. While talking about this matter, he was nostalgic.
He said, “After I got to my century, Kane come up to me and said, ‘Mate, you’re unbelievable’. It’s so surreal. To be receiving that kind of special praise from one of the best batters in the world. It’s the coolest thing I’ve been a part of.”
Ravindra shared his thoughts after he and Williamson steered New Zealand into a strong position against South Africa, with the team comfortably placed at 258 for 2. The youngster said, “Playing alongside Kane is always very special,” he said. “Sharing the crease with someone I idolize so much, life has come full circle for me. It’s a real ‘pinch-me’ moment. Seeing him go about his business as usual, with his calmness and timing, and the positions he gets himself into, it was pure batting bliss. As a lover of New Zealand cricket, seeing him still score Test hundreds is unbelievable.”
Further, he added, “You saw it at the World Cup as well. It shows the pure resilience of the man, coming out of all those injuries and setbacks as an even better cricketer. You can see it in his character, work ethic, and the way he gives back to the team. Many guys who’ve played 15 years of international cricket, might not have come back like Kane did. He’s unbelievable, just a model personality to have around.”
Rachin’s innings was outstanding. He is still unbeaten on 118 runs in 211 balls. He smashed 13 boundaries and 1 over-boundary. While talking about this innings, he said, “The way I batted was my natural way of scoring. On that surface, I had to be a little more selective in choosing the balls to score off. Kane was doing well at the other end, so being able to lean on him in the partnership was great.”
Later he added, “I’ve grown up loving ODIs, as you need to have the ability to be patient, while also putting pressure on the bowler, hitting big when need be. However, Test cricket is sort of the pinnacle now. Getting a hard-fought win after five days, that feeling is tough to match. This is just a natural progression of my skillsets, and my mental side as a cricketer. With more experience, I’m able to understand myself better.”
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