Baby bonus spurs

Trent Boult didn’t know if wife Gert was watching on TV with their newborn son, but the Black Caps spearhead was happy to credit them for his stunning international cricket return.

Barely a month after becoming a father for the first time, the world’s fourth-ranked one-day international bowler delivered a hat-trick and man of the match performance in New Zealand’s 47-run win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.

‘‘The lucky charm. He must have been watching in the early hours of the morning back home. I haven’t caught up with them [family] yet but I’m sure they’re pretty happy,’’ Boult said.

After Danny Morrison against India in 1994 and Shane Bond against Australia in 2007, Boult was the third Black Cap to snare an ODI hat-trick.

With his eighth, ninth and 10th deliveries Boult removed a strong trio of Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez to cripple Pakistan’s innings at 8-3.

‘‘My role is to run in and pitch the ball up and swing it around and try to take wickets.’’