Kane Williamson crushes Virat Kohli’s ODI record to achieve historic milestone
Published - 11 Feb 2025, 12:22 PM
Former New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson surpassed ace Indian batter Virat Kohli on the elite list of batters during his impressive knock against South Africa in Lahore. Williamson became the second-fastest player to reach 7,000 ODI runs in the second match of the ongoing tri-series against South Africa.
Williamson had been absent for most of the matches in the 50-over format for almost 18 months due to recurring injury troubles. However, his trademark consistency remains intact. He had already showcased his form by scoring 58 runs against Pakistan in New Zealand's opening game of the tri-series in Lahore.
Kane Williamson Surpasses Virat Kohli in Elite ODI Batting List
Kane Williamson guided his team to a six-wicket victory over South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday, February 10. Chasing a target of 305 runs, Kane scored an unbeaten 133 off 113 balls, with the help of 13 fours and two sixes. The right-handed batter also registered his first ODI century since 2019.
Williamson became the second-fastest batter in history to reach 7,000 ODI runs. He achieved the milestone in just his 159th innings. He surpassed Virat Kohli, who took 161 innings, while Hashim Amla tops the list with 150. AB de Villiers is in the top four with 166 innings.
The record among New Zealand batters was previously held by Martin Guptill (186 innings), followed by Ross Taylor (188). Williamson reached the landmark with a boundary in the 49th over, placing him ahead of some of the greatest names in the game.
Fastest to 7,000 Runs in Men's ODIs
| Innings | Batter | Team | Debut | 7,000th Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | Hashim Amla | South Africa | 2008 | 2017 |
| 159 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 2010 | 2025 |
| 161 | Virat Kohli | India | 2008 | 2016 |
| 166 | AB de Villiers | South Africa, Africa XI | 2005 | 2014 |
| 174 | Sourav Ganguly | India | 1992 | 2001 |
| 181 | Rohit Sharma | India | 2007 | 2018 |
| 183 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 1990 | 2001 |
| 186 | Martin Guptill | New Zealand | 2009 | 2022 |
| 187 | Desmond Haynes | West Indies | 1978 | 1991 |
| 188 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 1996 | 2004 |
| 188 | Ross Taylor | New Zealand | 2006 | 2018 |
New Zealand Secure Spot in Tri-Series Final After Back-to-Back Wins
Earlier, debutant opener Matthew Breetzke helped South Africa reach a total of 304/6 with a brilliant 150 off 148 balls. New Zealand started well, scoring 50 runs in the first 10 overs before losing opener Will Young.
The momentum shifted when Kane Williamson arrived. He formed a 187-run partnership with Devon Conway in just 155 balls. Conway fell just short of a century, dismissed for 97 off 107 balls, while Williamson reached his hundred in only 72 deliveries.
A brief collapse occurred as Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham fell to Senuran Muthusamy in the 39th over. However, Williamson guided New Zealand to victory with support from Glenn Phillips.
New Zealand secured a spot in the final, which is scheduled to be played on February 14, after winning both their league matches. They will face the winner of the Pakistan-South Africa game scheduled for February 12.
