In a remarkable display of cricketing excellence, New Zealand‘s former captain, Kane Williamson, has surpassed India’s Virat Kohli to achieve a major milestone in One-Day International (ODI) cricket. This historic achievement took place during the second match between New Zealand and South Africa in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2025, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Kane Williamson shines with a stunning century
South Africa set a challenging target of 304 runs for 6 wickets in their allotted 50 overs, largely due to a stunning debut performance by Matthew Breetzke who scored a record-breaking 150. However, New Zealand’s response was led by a masterful innings from Williamson. Facing a formidable bowling lineup, Williamson showcased his class, scoring an unbeaten 133 runs off 113 balls. His innings included 13 fours and 2 sixes, guiding New Zealand to a victory by 6 wickets with 8 balls to spare.
Also READ: Kane Williamson, Devon Conway propel New Zealand to an emphatic win over South Africa in Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2025
Williamson goes past Virat Kohli
During his brilliant knock, Williamson also attained the milestone of 7000 ODI runs and with that he overtook Indian legend Kohli. The Black Caps star reached his 7,000th ODI run in his 159th innings, thereby overtaking Kohli’s record of 161 innings. Though, the fastest to this milestone remains South Africa’s Hashim Amla, who achieved it in 150 innings. This feat not only highlights Williamson’s consistency but also adds another remarkable achievement to his cricketing resume.
Fastest to 7000 runs in ODIs:
- Hashim Amla – 150 innings
- Kane Williamson – 159 innings
- Virat Kohli – 161 innings
This achievement is not merely a statistical highlight but a testament to Williamson’s resilience, especially considering his recent injury challenges. His form will be crucial for New Zealand as they look forward to international tournaments like the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. As one of the most consistent and technically sound batters in the world, his ability to anchor innings, accelerate when required, and read the game’s situation has always been central to New Zealand’s strategy. His recent milestone and current form provide a significant boost and will be key in navigating through tough matches, particularly against strong opponents. Williamson’s performance could very well be the difference between New Zealand lifting the trophy or falling short, making his role in the team more crucial than ever.
