New Zealand star batsman Kane Williamson achieved the first achievement of his career by scoring his 31st Test century |Test ranking: In the interesting Test match going on between New Zealand and South Africa, Kiwi batsman Kane Williamson played a brilliant innings against South Africa on Tuesday and scored his 31st Test century by scoring 109 runs and during this he achieved a rare first achievement in his career.
Kane Williamson’s century and Ranking
This was the first time Williamson had scored two centuries in the same Test match, with the world No. 1 ranked Test batsman continuing his excellent recent form by adding 118 runs in the first innings and reaching triple figures once again.
The feat of scoring a century in both innings of a Test has now been achieved on 92 occasions in the history of Test cricket, with Williamson becoming the fifth New Zealand player to do so after Glenn Turner (1974), Geoff Howarth (1978). Peter Fulton (2013) and Andrew Jones (1991).
| Pos | Team | Player | Rating | Career Best Rating |
| 1 | New Zealand | Kane Williamson | 864 | 919 (vs Pakistan at Christchurch 2021) |
| 2 | England | Joe Root | 832 | 923 (vs India at Edgbaston 2022) |
| 3 | Australia | Steve Smith | 818 | 947 (vs South Africa at Durban 2018) |
| 4 | New Zealand | Daryl Mitchell | 786 | 804 (vs Bangladesh at Sylhet 2023) |
| 5 | Pakistan | Babar Azam | 768 | 882 (vs New Zealand at Karachi 2022) |
| 6 | India | Virat Kohli | 767 | 937 (vs England at Southampton 2018) |
| 7 | Australia | Usman Khawaja | 765 | 847 (vs England at Lord’s 2023) |
| 8 | England | Harry Brook | 765 | 773 (vs Australia at The Oval 2023) |
| 9 | Sri Lanka | Dimuth Karunaratne | 747 | 783 (vs Ireland at Galle 2023) |
| 10 | Australia | Marnus Labuschagne | 746 | 937 (vs West Indies at Adelaide 2022) |
| 11 | Australia | Travis Head | 741 | 884 (vs India at The Oval 2023) |
Williamson’s 31st Test century means the right-handed batsman owns the 13th overall spot on the list of Test centuries, with Australia’s Steve Smith (32 Test centuries) the only current player ahead of him.
Williamson’s heroics at Mount Maunganui capped another dominant day for New Zealand as the hosts reached 179/4 at stumps and a total lead of 528 runs with two days remaining.
New Zealand score
In response to New Zealand’s mammoth first innings score of 511, South Africa began the third day in a precarious position at 80/4 and Matt Henry (3/31) took wickets in successive balls at the start of the first session to give the home team a lead. Kept firmly under control.
Keegan Pietersen (45) fought hard for South Africa and gave a glimmer of hope for the tourists, but Mitchell Santner (3/34) and first-innings double-centurion Rachin Ravindra (2/16) bowled well to ensure that the Proteas were thrown out. Only 162.
While South Africa bowled well at times during New Zealand’s second innings, Williamson’s calm demeanor ensured the hosts were in the box seat for victory on the fourth day of the first Test on Wednesday.
NZvs SA Test Match Scorecard: –
NZ 1ST INNINGS: – 511 (144.0 overs)
SA 1ST INNINGS: – 162 (72.5 overs)
NZ 2ND INNINGS: – 179/4 (43.0 overs)
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