Cricket: Winning score comes despite cramps

Kane Williamson's unbeaten 145 surpassed Scott Styris' 2003 mark. Photo / AP

Kane Williamson's unbeaten 145 in New Zealand's victory over South Africa in Kimberley ensured he pinched a record from Northern Knights teammate Scott Styris.

Williamson's knock was the highest score by a New Zealander against a top-eight test playing nation in a one-day game and surpassed Styris' 141 against Sri Lanka at the 2003 World Cup.

His 136-ball innings, which included 17 fours and one six, was also the sixth-equal highest score by a New Zealander in a one-dayer. The higher totals all came against minnows such as Ireland, Zimbabwe and the US.

Williamson made his runs while battling cramp and his 127-run partnership with Grant Elliott (48) for the third wicket was the most crucial stand in the game.

"I was cramping up. I just got regular drinks and took a few cramp tablets and things and it seemed to ease off a little bit," Williamson said.

Williamson said he was just pleased to put some runs on the board as his 207-minute vigil laid the groundwork for New Zealand to record their first series victory over the Proteas in South Africa in any form of the game.

"It was very nice to contribute in that fashion in that match and then it was very pleasing to play the second innings like we did with the fielding effort that we showed."

The 22-year-old has scored three centuries in test and one-day cricket since his debut in 2010 but there have been plenty of low scores between the big numbers. He has moved around the batting order in test and one-day cricket, but No 3 is where he does his best work.

Top ODI scores

172 Lou Vincent v Zimbabwe, 2005

171* Glenn Turner v East Africa, 1975

166 Brendon McCullum v Ireland, 2008

161 James Marshall v Ireland, 2008

146 Rob Nicol v Zimbabwe, 2012

145* Nathan Astle v USA, 2004

145* Kane Williamson v South Africa, 2013