Kane Williamson notches 25th Test ton, first in nearly two years
Kane Williamson plays a sweep shot on Day 3 (Associated Press)
Kane Williamson ended his two-year drought to bring up his 25th Test century during the first Test match against Pakistan in Karachi. The elegant right-hander arrived to the crease within the opening hour of Day 3, and reached his ton during the twilight stages of the day.
Williamson’s innings also placed New Zealand in the driver’s seat against Pakistan, as they find themselves two runs ahead of the hosts with four wickets still intact by stumps.
Kane Williamson embarks post-captaincy era with drought-ending Test ton
Prior to the series in Pakistan, the legendary batter stepped down as New Zealand’s Test captain. Relieved of his role, the cricketer scored a scintillating ton against Babar Azam and co. on Day 3 of the Karachi Test.
Williamson’s century marked his 25th in Tests, and his first in nearly two years. The right-hander had previously scored 238 in Christchurch against the same opponents on January 3, 2021.
By stumps on Day 3, the 32-year-old reached 105*, with New Zealand looking to extend their two-run lead into a sizeable one on Day 4.
Kane Williamson celebrates Test century number 25, watch video
Apart from Williamson, opener Tom Latham also scored 113 at the top and formed a 183-run opening stand with Devon Conway. Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell chipped in with crucial 40s in the middle-order, while their former skipper held fort at the other end of the crease.
Earlier in the match, the Pakistan batters had piled up 438 in their first innings, with captain Babar Azam and Agha Salman plundering centuries.
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