In the world of cricket, records are made and broken, and on a sunny day at The Oval, New Zealand’s pace sensation, Trent Boult, etched his name in the annals of cricket history. On Wednesday, Boult surpassed the legendary Kiwi all-rounder Richard Hadlee to claim the record for the most five-wicket hauls in One Day Internationals (ODIs) for New Zealand. With this remarkable feat, Boult now stands tall with a total of six five-wicket hauls in his ODI career.
Boult’s historic achievement unfolded during New Zealand’s third ODI against England, a match that showcased his bowling prowess at its finest. The left-arm speedster was in vintage form, delivering a scintillating performance that rattled the English batting lineup.
Boult’s memorable day at The Oval started with him delivering two quick blows to England’s top order during the powerplay. He then proceeded to wreak havoc among the middle-order and lower-order batsmen, securing crucial wickets along the way. When the dust settled, Boult’s figures stood at an impressive 5/51 in 9.1 overs. His scalps included the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Sam Curran, and Gus Atkinson.
Trent Boult’s remarkable journey to this record has been nothing short of inspiring. After a period away from international cricket, during which he chose to prioritize franchise T20 leagues over a central contract, Boult returned to the New Zealand side with renewed vigour. His resurgence has been a boon for Kiwi cricket, and he has consistently delivered match-winning performances.
In the series against England, Boult has been the standout performer, emerging as the leading wicket-taker with eight wickets in just two matches. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace has made him a formidable force in the ODI format.
In the match against England, New Zealand opted to field first. Despite early struggles, England rallied, thanks to a brilliant 199-run partnership for the third wicket between Ben Stokes and Dawid Malan. Their efforts propelled England to a formidable total of 368 runs in 48.1 overs. Trent Boult, with his five-wicket haul, was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand, well-supported by Ben Lister, who claimed three wickets.
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However, the Kiwis’ chase didn’t go as planned, as the pace trio of Chris Woakes, Reece Topley, and Sam Curran rocked them. New Zealand found themselves in a precarious position at 70/5. Although Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra tried to mount a comeback, England’s bowlers proved too much to handle. The Kiwis were ultimately bowled out for 187 runs in 39 overs, with Chris Woakes and Liam Livingstone sharing the top honours among England’s bowlers.
