New Zealand skipper Tim Southee is renowned for his bowling skills but on Saturday he impressed everyone by matching a batting record held by former Indian wicketkeeper batsman MS Dhoni. In the second Test encounter against England, Southee hit Stuart Broad for a huge six to take his tally of sixes in Test cricket to 78 – the same as Dhoni. The right-hander is currently in the Top-15 on the list and is just six sixes away from legendary West Indies batsman Viv Richards. Southee hit two sixes while remaining unbeaten on 23 off 18 balls.
That’s what 𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗡 hit
Tim Southee now equals MS Dhoni for number of test matches with 78… #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/1qoa2odbMt
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) February 25, 2023
Southee also became the first Kiwi bowler to take 700 international wickets.
James Anderson cemented his elevation to world number one in Test bowling with a deadly opening spell as England took full control of the second Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
Veteran sailor Anderson made a snare from 3-37, sending the Black Caps crashing to 138-7 as rain brought an early end to day two in Wellington after England announced their first innings at 435-8.
Spinner Jack Leach also took three scalps to leave New Zealand staring at a deficit of 297 runs with three days to go.
Red-hot England are on course for a two-match sweep of the series, having won the first Test by 267 runs at Mount Maunganui with the same mix of aggressive batting and powerful new-ball bowling.
Joe Root was undefeated on 153 when captain Ben Stokes made his assertive statement, giving the tourists half an hour to attack the Black Caps top order before lunch.
Anderson answered the call and removed Devon Conway (0) and Kane Williamson (4) to languish the hosts at 12-2.
The demanding pacesetter removed Will Young (2) after the break to underline why he had been re-listed in the No. 1 position in the ICC player rankings released this week – the oldest player to hold the top spot, at 40.
All three batsmen feathered edges to gloveman Ben Foakes, extending the number of Test casualties caught by an Anderson wicketkeeper to 188 – 36 more than any other bowler.
Left-handers Tom Latham (35) and Henry Nicholls (30) launched a rearguard, but both fell trying to turn Leach (3-45) around, earning catches to fielders around the bat.
Centurion Tom Blundell of the first test reached 25 not out before play was called off at 5:45 pm (0445 GMT), and his free-running captain Tim Southee was unbeaten on 23 — in an innings with two sixes.
About 25 overs were lost to the latter rain, mirroring the premature finish on the first day as the clouds opened.
However, England still have plenty of time to push for a seventh successive Test win and send New Zealand to an eighth successive winless Test.
Earlier, England lost five wickets and scored a further 120 runs in an entertaining opening session after resuming at 315-3.
Harry Brook fell for 186 in the third over, having added just two to his overnight score.
His blazing bat was part of a 302-run stand with Root – the second highest in England’s Test history against New Zealand – after saving the tourists from 21–3 early on the first day.
Root effortlessly went from his 101 overnight to the 150 for the 14th time in his career.
The 32-year-old received lively support from Stokes – who shot 27 from 28 balls – Stuart Broad (14) and Ollie Robinson (18).
Root hit 10 fours and three sixes, including a reverse ramp shot that cleared the boundary line from Southee’s fourth ball he faced on Saturday.
Seamer Matt Henry took the main wicket from Brook, holding on to a sharp catch-and-bowling opportunity, to return 4-100.
(with AFP inputs)
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