Star New Zealand batter Kane Williamson delivered a masterclass on Monday, scoring an unbeaten century to lead his team to a six-wicket victory over South Africa in Lahore. Chasing a target of 305, Williamson's brilliance ensured New Zealand's highest successful ODI chase against South Africa, securing their place in the tri-series final in Pakistan.
The right-handed batter remained unbeaten on 133 off 113 balls at the Gaddafi Stadium, smashing 13 fours and two sixes. With a composed approach, he guided his team home, sealing the win with a boundary in the 49th over.
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Williamson also etched his name in history by becoming the second-fastest batter to reach 7000 runs in ODIs. The 34-year-old achieved the milestone in just his 159th innings, surpassing Virat Kohli, who reached the mark in 161 innings. Kohli, with 13,911 ODI runs in 296 matches, now ranks third in the list.
The record for the fastest batter to 7000 ODI runs remains with former South African great Hashim Amla, who reached the landmark in just 150 innings.
Fastest batters to 7000 ODI runs
Hashim Amla (South Africa): 150 inningsKane Williamson (New Zealand): 159 inningsVirat Kohli (India): 161 inningsAb de Villiers (South Africa): 166 inningsSourav Ganguly (India): 174 innings
Before Williamson, Martin Guptill was the quickest New Zealand batter to achieve the feat, taking 186 innings to reach the 7000-run milestone. Williamson’s latest accomplishment solidifies his reputation as one of the finest batters in modern-day cricket.
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