New Zealand batter Kane Williamson crafted his second century of the match in the ongoing first Test against South Africa in Mount Maunganui, putting the hosts in control of the proceedings.
The former New Zealand captain hit a quickfire 109 as the hosts reached 179-4 at stumps in their second innings at the Bay Oval on Day 3. This is the first time that Williamson has scored centuries in both the innings of a Test, taking his tally to 31 tons in the longest format of the game.
After scoring his 30th and 31st centureis, Williamson achieved multiple milestones in the first Test against a depleted Proteas.
Williamson scored his 18th Test hundred in New Zealand, putting himself joint-sixth in the list of most tons at home. Australia great Don Bradman and former England skipper Joe Root also have 18 Test centuries at home.
The overall list is jointly held by Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and Australia’s Ricky Ponting, having scored 23 centuries each on home soil.
The 33-year-old is the joint second-fastest, along with Australia’s Steve Smith, to score 31 Test hundreds. Legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar tops the chart, having achieved the feat in his 165th innings.
Williamson is only the fifth New Zealand batter to register centuries in both the innings of a Test. Glenn Turner, Geoff Howarth, Andrew Jones and Peter Fulton are the others to do so. Overall, Williamson’s outing in the first Test marked the 92nd occasion when a player has scored a century in both innings of a Test game.