Boult brilliance lifts Black Caps
Fresh off his best bowling in a test innings, Trent Boult was quick to deflect praise onto the pressure built up at the other end.
New Zealand seized back the ascendancy on day two of the deciding test against Sri Lanka at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval yesterday and Boult was a massive reason why.
The left-arm quick delivered a stunning spell of swing bowling to open the morning session, snaring 6-4 in 15 deliveries as Sri Lanka were skittled for 104 in reply to New Zealand’s first innings score of 178.
By the end of day two, New Zealand were in a commanding position at 231-2 in their second innings with a lead of 305 runs. Tom Latham is unbeaten on 74 and chasing more runs after his career-best 264 not out in Wellington in the first test.
Boult’s fast bowling combination with Tim Southee has been instrumental to New Zealand’s success in all three forms over the past seven years.
The Black Caps bowling group places plenty of emphasis on hunting as a pack and generating problems from both ends.
Boult got the rewards on day two with pace, swing and full deliveries zeroing in on the stumps to the Sri Lanka middle and lower order, who had few answers.
He saluted Southee’s contribution from the Port Hills end and said their ability to frustrate the opposition at both ends had been crucial to New Zealand’s consistent test form in recent times.
‘‘I think that’s one of the main reasons we are so successful is bowling from both ends and bowling in those partnerships. That’s probably what we’ll look to do later in the game,’’ Boult said.
‘‘The rhythm felt really good the way it’s been coming out. It’s one of the strengths of the side, of the bowling unit itself, is bowling for each other and sticking to that plan and being willing to hang in there and be patient.’’
Boult went into the second day wicketless from 10 overs, but after 40 minutes play he was walking from the field with 6-30 from 15 overs, his best test figures in an innings.
It was the fourth time he had taken six wickets in a test innings and eclipsed his 6-32 against England in the day-night test at Eden Park in March.
Boult has a phenomenal test record at Hagley, nabbing 34 wickets at 21 with this his sixth match at the venue.
‘‘I think it has traditionally swung here quite nicely. It is probably one of the best swing bowling grounds in the country.’’
Boult’s first two wickets were snaffled by Southee at third slip, the second a one-handed beauty diving to his right to dismiss Niroshan Dickwella.
The last four batsmen all went lbw with the tail having few answers for the straight thunderbolts coming for their pads.
‘‘It’s all about rhythm for me anyway. I suppose getting into a groove, a couple of wickets gives you a bit of confidence and just lets you go about your thing. The plans were simple. It was about building pressure on the [Sri Lanka] guys and it was nice to exploit a bit of their weaknesses with some swing bowling.’’
Boult was on a hat-trick when he removed Dilruwan Perera and Suranga Lakmal in successive deliveries.
Dushmantha Chameera survived the hat-trick delivery from the first ball of Boult’s next over, but was clueless against his next ball, falling lbw to a length ball that shaped back.