NZ skipper salutes ‘unique’ star Wood

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson paid tribute to Durham paceman Mark Wood after yesterday’s 87run Champions Trophy defeat to England at Cardiff.

Williamson fell for 87 to a ball from Wood that leapt at him from short of a length to take his glove for caught-behind.

He left with a long look behind at the pitch, but afterwards admitted it was largely a case of credit to the opposition, giving special mention to Wood.

“He’s a very good bowler, unique in the fact that he bowls at such good pace off maybe a five to 10-metre run-up – which you don’t see too much around the world,” said 26-year-old Williamson.

“He’s performed very, very well for England over a period of time – especially coming back after injury ... so certainly he is a strength of their bowling attack.”

Of the delivery which got him out, he added: “It bounced a bit more than I expected and hit my glove.

“It’s a bit frustrating, because we were getting a little bit of momentum with the bat.

“But I guess those things happen, and you move on.

“England bowled very, very well. A lot of credit goes to the way they bowled on that surface to extract what they did out of it.”

There was a sting in the tail for Williamson when the ICC fined him 40% and his team 20% of their match fees for a slow over rate.

England seamer Jake Ball described it as “a great feeling” after playing his part in an excellent bowling effort from the home team. “It was about trying to put it in the right area and hopefully something will happen,” Ball said.

The Notts quick had conceded 82 runs in the victory over Bangladesh at the Oval, but delivered two maidens en route to figures of 2-31 yesterday.

“That’s one-day cricket – you have to be prepared to go round the park now and again and cherish these days when you come off with decent figures,” he added.

“It’s a great feeling – obviously we’ve got one more game against the Aussies and it would be nice to beat them and go unbeaten in the group stage.”