Kane Williamson shatters records with match-winning ton against South Africa
Kane Williamson is back to what he does best – pile on runs in Test cricket and win matches for New Zealand.
Kane Williamson exhibited his masterful prowess by leading New Zealand to victory in the second Test against South Africa in Hamilton.
Chasin 267, Williamson walked in at No.3 and struck a 133*, laced with 12 fours and two sixes to guide the Black Caps to a whitewash 2-0 victory.
This historic win marked New Zealand's first-ever series victory against South Africa in Men's Test cricket, culminating a 92-year wait for such a momentous achievement.
The chase orchestrated by Williamson secured the fourth-highest successful chase in New Zealand by the Black Caps and the fifth-highest overall.
Surpassing Joe Root's century tally last week, Williamson notched up his 32nd Test century, now the highest among active players. Achieving this milestone in 172 innings, he also claimed the title of the quickest to 32 Test centuries by innings, bettering Steve Smith who accomplished the feat in 174 innings.
Fastest to 32 Test Centuries
| Player | Number of innings |
| Kane Williamson | 172 |
| Steve Smith | 174 |
| Ricky Ponting | 176 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 179 |
| Younis Khan | 193 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | 195 |
Williamson's fifth century in the fourth innings of a Test match tied him with the legendary Younis Khan for the most tons in the final innings. Remarkably, four out of his five fourth-innings centuries have come in successful run-chases, with the latest against South Africa adding to the impressive list.
In recent times, Kane Williamson has displayed exceptional form, smashing eight centuries, including two double-hundreds, in his last 10 Test matches. Despite a serious knee injury during the Indian Premier League that almost jeopardized his spot in the World Cup squad, the 33-year-old made a triumphant return to Test cricket, showcasing his unwavering skill in the longest format.
New Zealand Kane Williamson quickly returned to form before retiring hurt in New Zealand's win over Bangladesh at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023
A slip-up in Joe Root’s form in July propelled Kane Williamson to the top of the ICC Men’s Test Batters’ Rankings despite being on the sidelines at the time. However, since his return to Test cricket after the injury, Williamson has been in a league of his own and sits on top having built a strong lead at the top with 883 rating points, a healthy gap to Steve Smith at second with 818 points.