In a stunning moment at Mount Maunganui, former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson recorded his first-ever golden duck in One Day Internationals during the opening match against England. The seasoned batsman was dismissed by Brydon Carse on the very first ball of his innings while his team was pursuing a target of 224.
This exceptionally rare dismissal marks a significant event in Williamson’s distinguished ODI career. Prior to this match, he had only accumulated five ducks across 165 innings, with merely two occurring since 2010. His last duck was recorded back in 2016, highlighting the unusual nature of this “golden” one.
Earlier in the match, England had staged an impressive recovery from a precarious position of 33 for 5, ultimately setting a challenging total of 223, largely due to a brilliant, counter-attacking performance from Harry Brook. New Zealand’s chase began on a shaky note, falling to 12 for 2 after Williamson’s early exit, and further deteriorating to 66 for 4 following the departure of Tom Latham.
This particular game also signified Williamson’s return to international cricket after the Champions Trophy 2025 final against India, where he scored 11 runs from 14 balls before being dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav.
Now 35 years old, Williamson operates on a part-time contract with New Zealand Cricket, strategically selecting his international commitments. Earlier in the year, he chose to skip several national fixtures, including Test matches, to concentrate on playing county cricket and participate in The Hundred.
The golden duck unfolded as Williamson, batting at the crucial No. 3 position, attempted to play a full delivery from Carse but edged it straight to the wicketkeeper. This early setback plunged New Zealand into immediate difficulty, making their chase even more arduous.