Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams has been at the top of his game in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. With exceptional performances in the tournament so far, Williams has been the driving force behind Zimbabwe’s success. Let’s take a closer look at his outstanding stats and performances.
In the five matches he has played, Williams has already crossed the 100-run mark three times, amassing a staggering total of 532 runs at an incredible average of 133.00. His closest competitor in terms of runs is yet to even touch the 300-run mark. His scores of 142, 174, 23, 91, and 102* highlight his consistency and match-winning ability.
Not only has Williams been piling on the runs, but he has also been doing it at a remarkable strike rate of 148.60, the highest among batters with a minimum of 60 runs in the competition. His average of 133 is also the highest among batters with 210-plus runs. To top it off, Williams is the only player, apart from Nicholas Pooran of West Indies, to score multiple centuries in the tournament.
One of Williams’s standout performances came in the game against the USA, where he scored an unbeaten 102* off just 70 balls, making it the then-fastest century by a Zimbabwean batsman in ODIs. However, his record was short-lived, as his teammate Sikandar Raza surpassed him with a 54-ball ton against the Netherlands. Williams, nevertheless, achieved another milestone by reaching his century off just 65 balls against the USA, becoming the second-fastest Zimbabwean to do so.
His remarkable knock of 174 off 101 balls against the USA not only helped him become the fourth Zimbabwean batter to score more than 150 runs in an ODI but also gave him the third-highest individual score for Zimbabwe in ODIs. This innings propelled Zimbabwe to their highest-ever ODI total of 408/6, surpassing their previous best of 351/7 against Kenya in 2007.
With his exceptional performances, Williams has reached a career total of 4,918 runs in 154 ODIs, making him the sixth-highest run-getter for Zimbabwe in the format. He has also contributed with his left-arm spin, taking 80 wickets at an economy rate of 4.95. He joins the likes of Grant Flower and Elton Chigumbura as a Zimbabwean all-rounder with over 4,500 runs and 50 wickets in ODIs.
Williams’s outstanding form has played a crucial role in Zimbabwe’s unbeaten run in the tournament so far. The hosts have been dominant, thanks to his exceptional batting performances. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Williams to see if he can continue his dream run and guide Zimbabwe to the coveted World Cup qualification.
