New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson made headlines with his 31st Test century as the Kiwis took complete control of the first Test on Day Three against a depleted South Africa in Mount Maunganui yesterday. 

Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson ground out unbeaten centuries as New Zealand punished a second-string South Africa on the opening day of the first Test at Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Williamson added that New Zealand, who have never won a Test series against South Africa, will focus on playing their brand of cricket to gain crucial WTC points.

Star batters Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra were named Friday in the New Zealand squad for the two-match home Test series, starting next week, against an inexperienced South Africa side.

Williamson was already set to miss the third game on Wednesday, and with the first Test against South Africa less than three weeks away, Stead said his star batsman would probably sit out the final two games as well.

World class batter Williamson missed last month's ODI and T20 series against Bangladesh while he rehabilitated a knee injury sustained nine months ago.

Despite being named in the original squad, Williamson will undergo further rehabilitation after knee surgery last April, while Jamieson is nursing a hamstring injury, the Black Caps said.

Captain Kane Williamson will make his return to international Twenty20 cricket in the three-match home series against Bangladesh, New Zealand Cricket said Sunday.

Taijul Islam broke through the castle of Kane Williamson close to the end of the second day as New Zealand were 266 for eight before bad light put an end to the day's play in Sylhet.

India, who Williamson described as a "blue machine", defeated his side by 70 runs in Mumbai on Wednesday to reach the World Cup final.

India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bat first after reports emerged hours before the first semfiinal that the local authities switched the pitch from the one originally prescribed by the ICC.

A capacity crowd of over 33,000 is expected at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium -- the home ground of India captain Rohit Sharma -- for Wednesday's clash

"We saw something special today from Pakistan," said Williamson whose team have now lost four games in a row after starting the tournament with four wins.

Rachin Ravindra cracked his third century of the World Cup while a fit-again Kane Williamson made up for lost time with 95 as New Zealand posted a commanding 401-6 from 50 overs in their high-stakes World Cup match against Pakistan on Saturday.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins believes Saturday's World Cup clash with New Zealand will be a battle between "mates" as the push for semi-final places enters a critical phase.

"The cricket, as well, is just a bonus," said batter Will Young.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the team's immediate World Cup matches with a fractured thumb, but head coach Gary Stead is optimistic the batter will be back in action at some stage of the tournament.

Despite having finished second in the last two ICC World Cups, New Zealand cricketers still long for the deserving attention from their home fans. In Bangladesh, though, fans prepare themselves to experience a downpour of emotions whenever the Tigers are in action.

Williamson had ruptured his ACL in March this year during the opening match of the 15th Indian Premier League (IPL) and had to undergo a knee surgery.

Defending champions England and New Zealand, the two finalists of a blockbuster 2019 World Cup, are having to deal with injury issues as they prepare to take the field in the 2023 World Cup opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today.