ICC World Cup 2019 | Delighted to have been lucky to get Kane Williamson run out, reveals Mark Wood
Mark Wood has said that he canât believe his luck in the ongoing World Cup after a rather unfortunate incident for Kane Williamson saw him getting run out just when he was starting to build his innings. The batsman later stated that though he had been unlucky, he had to let it go and focus ahead.
England recorded a huge 119-run win in what was a must-win game against New Zealand yesterday, who also needed a victory to seal their spot in the semifinals. Having set a good target of 306, lower than the hosts would have expected after the brilliant start their openers gave them, the onus was on their strike bowlers to deliver.Â
They did get two early wickets in the form of both openers, but that meant on the crease were Ross Taylor and skipper Kane Williamson. Just when the two were getting settled and looked to bail their team out of trouble just like innumerable times in the past, a straight drive by Ross Taylor hit Mark Woodâs fingertips and rattled the wickets, getting Williamson out on the non-striker's end.
âHe doesnât know how unlucky he is because Iâve got the smallest hands for a bloke youâve ever seen,â a happy Wood joked, reported Scroll.in.
âI managed to just get a fingertip to it. The umpire wasnât sure if Iâd tipped it, and I said âI swear to God I didâ. I knew it had flicked the end of my finger,â Wood added.
While Taylor had been averaging 59 in 2019, coming into the match Williamson had 454 runs under his belt in the present World Cup at an average of 113.5, including two centuries. Both of them had come at a time when his team was reeling and had ended up securing a win for him. However, Woodâs fortune saved his this time from such an innings this time around, as the Black Caps collapsed thereon. They were bowled out for 186 with Wood himself taking three wickets, taking his World Cup haul to 16.
âHe was one of the best players Iâve ever bowled at so to get him out any way you can is pretty important. It saved me bowling at him any more so I was pretty pleased. In big games, in big moments, you need those moments. Iâm just pleased that in such a big game I managed to be so lucky,â Wood concluded on the matter.
The loss meant the Kiwis will have to hope Pakistan donât win big against Bangladesh, since the final rankings may be decided on the basis of net run rate. However, it will need an extraordinary effort from the Asians to displace New Zealand and though disappointed, Williamson says he has to move on from such unlucky happenings.
âIs it luck or lack of it? It is one of those things. The English bowlers put us under pressure and I donât know whether that run-out came from that's but you move on,â Williamson stated.