New Zealand stalwart Kane Williamson scored a century on his County Championship debut for Middlesex on Wednesday (July 23).
Kane Williamson scores century in first red-ball outing for Middlesex
Williamson signed a two-year contract with Middlesex in February, and is available for at least five County Championship matches this season. The first of those began yesterday (July 22), against Northamptonshire at Northwood in Division 2.
Match 90, Middlesex vs Northamptonshire
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Middlesex openers Sam Robson and Max Holden put on 122 after Leus du Plooy's side were asked to bat first. Robson departed for 57 in the 34th over to bring Williamson to the crease.
The former New Zealand skipper hit his second ball for four, and settled into his innings quickly. He got to a half-century after lunch, off 73 balls, studded with nine fours. By the end of day one, Williamson was unbeaten on 80, and Middlesex 319-1 thanks to Holden's century.
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In the first session of day two, Williamson made his way to the three-figure mark off 147 balls, knocking a low full toss from Liam Guthrie down to fine leg for a single. It was his 44th century in first-class cricket, to go with 65 half-centuries.
He was eventually dismissed for 114 by Guthrie, just two balls after Holden had departed for 151. Ryan Higgins and skipper Leus du Plooy then began to build again, from 361-3.
While this was his first red-ball game for Middlesex, Williamson did play 14 matches in this year's T20 Blast, scoring 396 runs at a strike rate of 139. He has also played 36 County Championship matches for Gloucestershire and Yorkshire, the last of those coming in August 2018.
Image credit: Instagram / @middlesexcricket
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