Star New Zealand batter Kane Williamson entered his name in the history books on Wednesday (March 5) by becoming the first Kiwi batter to score 19,000 runs in international cricket.

The 34-year-old right-handed batter from Tauranga achieved the feat during the ongoing second semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025 between New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore. Williamson needed 27 runs in the match currently underway at the Gaddafi Stadium, and he achieved the objective by taking a single on the last ball of the 19th over of the match bowled by Keshav Maharaj.

Williamson is overall the 16th batter in the world to score 19000 or more runs in international cricket.

Most runs in international cricket

• Sachin Tendulkar (India): 34,357
• Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, Asia, ICC): 28,016
• Virat Kohli (India): 27,598
• Ricky Ponting (Australia, ICC): 27,483
• Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka, Asia): 25,957
• Jacques Kallis (South Africa, Africa, ICC): 25,534
• Rahul Dravid (India, Asia, ICC): 24,208
• Brian Lara (West Indies, ICC): 22,358
• Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka, Asia): 21,032
• Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies): 20,988
• Joe Root (England): 20,724
• Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan, ICC, Asia): 20,580
• Ab de Villiers (South Africa, Africa): 20,014
• Rohit Sharma (India): 19,624
• Chris Gayle (West Indies, ICC): 19,593
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand): 19,000*

Most runs for New Zealand

• Kane Williamson - 19,000*
• Ross Taylor - 18,199
• Stephen Fleming - 15,289
• Brendon McCullum - 14,676
• Martin Guptill - 13,463

The ongoing match against South Africa is Kane's 384th international match for the Black Caps, and by crossing the 19,000-run mark in his 440th innings, he became the fourth-fastest batter in the world to achieve the feat.

India's Virat Kohli was the fastest batter in the world to score 19,000 runs in international cricket. He achieved the feat in his 399th innings. In the elite list, Kohli is followed by Sachin Tendulkar (432 innings) and West Indies' great Brian Lara (433). England's Joe Root and Australia's Ricky Ponting scored their 19,000th run in the 444th innings.

Fastest batters to score 19,000 runs

• Virat Kohli (India) - 399 innings
• Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 432 innings
• Brian Lara (West Indies) - 433 innings
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand) - 440 innings
• Joe Root (England) - 444 innings
• Ricky Ponting (Australia) - 444 innings

The Kiwis will have high hopes from Kane in the ongoing match against South Africa. A win over the Temba Bavuma-led side will book Mitchell Santner & Co.'s place in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to take place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, March 9, against India.

Williamson, who is New Zealand's fourth leading run scorer in ODIs, scored 81 runs from 120 balls in the last Group A match played against India in Dubai on Sunday, March 2. In that match he was, however, unable to help the Black Caps secure a second straight win over India in the Champions Trophy 2025.

In addition to Williamson, Rachin Ravindra will be a key player for New Zealand against South Africa. The left-handed batter has been in good touch these days. He scored a century in the Group A match played against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 24.

For more in-depth coverage of the Champions Trophy, check out the latest Points Table to see where your favorite team stands. Stay updated on the tournament's top performers with the Most Runs and Most Wickets leaderboards. Keep following for all the latest updates!