The Post

Williamson closes in on Kohli for top ranking

- Cricket

Kane Williamson has become the first New Zealand batsman to break the 900-point barrier in the ICC player rankings for test batsmen following his brilliant performanc­e in the third test against Pakistan.

Williamson scored 89 and 139 in Abu Dhabi in the test which finished on Saturday, helping his side to its first away series win against Pakistan in 49 years.

His efforts earned him 37 points in the player rankings, taking him to 913 points and leapfroggi­ng the currently suspended Australian former captain Steve Smith into second place. Williamson is now just seven points in arrears of Indian captain Virat Kohli as he prepares for the Black Caps’ home series opener against Sri Lanka in Wellington on Saturday.

Kohli struggled in India’s first test win over Australia in Adelaide, scoring three and 34. The second test starts on Friday.

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