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Boult breaks records as New Zealand put Sri Lanka to the sword

27th December, 2018
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27th December, 2018
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New Zealand’s batsmen capitalised on a record bowling spell by Trent Boult to take control of the second Test from Sri Lanka at the end of Wednesday’s second day in Christchurch.

Jeet Raval (74) and Tom Latham (74no) completed half-centuries and Kane Williamson made 48 as the Black Caps finished the day at 2-231 for an overall lead of 305 runs.

New Zealand took an unexpected 74-run first-innings lead, achieved when Boult took six wickets for four runs in the space of 15 balls to send Sri Lanka tumbling from 4-96 to 104 all out.

His first five wickets came faster than any other bowler in Test history – from 11 balls – beating Jacques Kallis’ in 2002 record of 12 balls against Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka had looked in a strong position, resuming at 4-88 in reply to New Zealand’s first innings of 178, but Boult’s Test-best 6-30 turned the match on its head.

The left-armer, with 224 wickets in 58 Tests, began the day with 0-20 in Sri Lanka’s first innings after struggling in the first Test in Wellington, where he took 2-145. He also managed only seven wickets for 262 runs in three Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Suddenly, the dry spell turned into a flood and Boult went from 0-26 to 6-30, narrowly missing a hat-trick when he took three wickets with four balls.

Boult admitted he felt some frustration when the wickets weren’t coming, though he felt he was bowling well.

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“I think a little bit can creep if you let it,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s been a tough time.

“In the UAE, it’s tough conditions for a seam bowler and you come here and you almost expect it to happen. We know what works well here and we kept it in good areas.”

Boult’s first two wickets, overnight batsman Roshen Silva and wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, were caught by new-ball partner Tim Southee at third slip and his next four fell lbw, three within four deliveries.

English umpire Michael Gough gave five decisions in a row in Boult’s favour.

The following four wickets fell at an even more frantic pace, starting with Dilruwan Perera, then Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara.

Angelo Mathews, almost immovable in the first Test where he scored 83 and 121no, was left unbeaten on 33.
New Zealand’s batsmen prospered in increasingly benign conditions.

Raval reached his seventh Test 50 from 122 balls and Latham followed him from 155 deliveries. The pair put on 100 for the first wicket.

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© AAP

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