Williamson honoured to become New Zealand's record Test run-scorer
Kane Williamson savoured the "special" achievement of becoming New Zealand's leading Test run-scorer after giving his side a fighting chance of salvaging a 1-1 draw against England.
Williamson made a masterful 132 as the Black Caps were all out for 483 on day four, having been made to follow-on by Ben Stokes.
Former captain Williamson moved beyond Ross Taylor's tally of 7,683 runs to break the record at Basin Reserve on Monday, where England closed on 48-1 in need of another 210 runs for a 2-0 whitewash on the final day.
Williamson's 26th Test century came on his 161st innings, with Taylor's huge haul achieved from 186 knocks in the longest format.
Asked about his achievement at the close of play, the 32-year-old said: "It's not something I've thought a whole lot about.
"But it is an honour. You look at that list, and I've admired all of those players over those years, whether that's watching from afar growing up or playing alongside a number of them as well.
"It's not a focus point but it's special to be amongst that company."
Williamson, who was eventually dismissed caught down the leg side off part-time bowler Harry Brook, hopes to celebrate his exploits with a victory in Wellington.
"It would be pretty special for sure," he said. "It's exciting going in to day five. As a bowling attack and a team, we want to make sure we're on it come tomorrow.
"There's still some assistance there and some assistance for the slower bowlers as well. All to play for, which is exciting."
Jack Leach took 5-157 from 61.3 overs as England had to be patient, with Tom Blundell (90) and Daryl Mitchell (54) also holding them up.
Zak Crawley was unable to make it through to stumps, Tim Southee cleaning him up for 24. Ben Duckett was still there on 23, with Ollie Robinson taking the nightwatchman role after Crawley departed late in the day.
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Leach takes centre stage as England claim emphatic win over Pakistan
England sealed an innings and 47-run victory over Pakistan on Friday, with Jack Leach shining on day five.
After a dominant performance on day four, England went into the final three sessions within touching distance of what had seemed like an unlikely victory when Pakistan mounted 556 in their first innings.
Pakistan began the day requiring 115 to match England's huge total of 823-7, which Joe Root (264) and Harry Brook had propelled them to.
But with Abrar Ahmed unable to feature due to illness, Pakistan were left with just three wickets to play with, and Leach - playing in his first Test since January - needed little time to wrap up the victory.
Salman Agha (63) was trapped lbw inside four deliveries, while Shaheen Shah Afridi was caught and bowled on 10 before Leach's spin did for Naseem Shah, who was stumped by Jamie Smith to see Pakistan all out for 220.
Leach finished with figures of 4-30 as England celebrated an emphatic victory that gives them a 1-0 lead in the series ahead of the second Test, which will also be played in Multan, next week.
Data Debrief: Record breakers
England have now reeled off three straight wins when they have conceded a total over 500, a remarkable feat in and of itself.
In fact, this victory marks the first time a team has been hit for as many as 556, yet still gone on to win by an innings.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have now lost 11 Test matches on the bounce as hosts, and four in a row to England on home soil.
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CWI awards 2024/25 contracts to men's, women's Academy players
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has awarded full-time, one-year contracts to 30 young players as part of its ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging talent in the region.
For the first time, the Men’s Academy cohort will be based full-time at the CWI-owned Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua, while the Women’s Academy players will continue their high-performance development in their home territories with regular training camps at CCG throughout the year.
This year marks a significant step for the Men’s Academy, with 15 players under the age of 23 receiving dedicated, year-long coaching and training. These young men will have access to world-class resources, including a dedicated technical team, as they prepare for the rigors of regional and international cricket.
The Women’s Academy, which was launched during the 2023/24 season, continues to offer young female cricketers critical development opportunities.
Additionally, the 15 women awarded contracts for this season will benefit from specialized training with Talent Pathway coaches and ongoing high-performance initiatives in their respective territories and CCG, as well as experiencing an international tour.
Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket, emphasized the importance of both programmes.
“The CWI Academies are instrumental in bridging the gap between junior and senior levels, ensuring that both men and women receive the support they need to succeed internationally. By focusing on holistic development and providing tailored, high-performance programming, we are accelerating the growth of our emerging players and securing a bright future for West Indies cricket,” Bascombe said.