![Trent Boult [Source: @sololoveee/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1753170048414_trent_boult.jpg?type=mq)
Trent Boult [Source: @sololoveee/x]
New Zealand pace demon Trent Boult has made a career out of breaking stumps and breaking partnerships. Whether under cloudy skies or on flat decks, the thunderbolt fast bowler has delivered some jaw-dropping spells that have turned games on their heads, regardless of the format.
Armed with late swing, relentless rhythm, and a knack for striking early, Boult has often been the chaos agent every batting lineup dreads. Celebrating Boult’s international career, here is a look at five of his best bowling performances.
5. Trent Boult 4-13 vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup 2022
Trent Boult picked up his career-best T20I figures of 4-13 back in October 2022 during the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia, doing so against Sri Lanka at the iconic SCG. Defending 168 runs for a win, the legendary paceman started off with two wickets in the first over of his opening spell, including that of opener Kusal Mendis for just four and number three Dhananjaya de Silva for a duck. Boult also got rid of Charith Asalanka within the powerplay overs as Sri Lanka slipped to 8-4 at one stage of their run-chase.
The fast bowler conceded just 13 runs from his four overs, picking up four wickets in the process as New Zealand won the match by 65 runs.
4. Trent Boult 6-32 vs England, Auckland Test 2018
In the series-opening first Test against England in Auckland back in March 2018, Trent Boult shattered the visitor’s line-up with an electric six-fer. Boult bowled 10.4 overs in a single spell, conceded just 32 runs and picked up six English wickets, including that of Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Ben Stokes. His spell devastated England, as they folded up for just 58 in 20.4 overs in the first innings of the match.
England never truly recovered from the drubbing, with Trent Boult taking three more wickets in the second innings to complete a sensational match haul of 9-99 as New Zealand secured a comfortable innings win of 49 runs.
3. Trent Boult 6-30 vs Sri Lanka, Christchurch Test 2018
In December 2018 against Sri Lanka in Christchurch, Trent Boult picked up his second six-wicket haul of the year with figures of 6-30 from 15 overs. Bowling in one of his return spells after Sri Lanka reached 4-94, Boult mopped up the entire middle and lower-order in the space of just four overs as the visitors dusted out for just 104.
Boult picked up four of those wickets as plumbed LBWs, thus signifying his relentless accuracy. He collected three more in the second innings as New Zealand romped to a comprehensive 423-run victory. To date, Trent Boult’s Christchurch epic against Sri Lanka remains his best-ever bowling figures in Test cricket.
2. Trent Boult 6-33 vs Australia, Hamilton ODI 2017
In the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy decider from February 2017 in Hamilton, Trent Boult electrocuted Australia while defending 282 runs for a series win. Sharing the new ball with Tim Southee, Boult cleaned up Peter Handscomb for a two-ball duck, before scything through Australia’s entire lower-order to complete his maiden ODI six-wicket haul.
The fast bowler eventually sealed tight figures of 6-33 from his 10 overs in the high-scoring ODI as New Zealand won the match by 24 runs.
1. Trent Boult 7-34 vs West Indies, Christchurch ODI 2017
Trent Boult picked up the lone seven-wicket haul of his international career in December 2017, doing so against West Indies in the second ODI of a series in Christchurch. After New Zealand racked up 325-7 from 50 overs upfront, Boult dismissed each of West Indies’ top four batters inside the first 10 overs, before making his return to clean up the visitor’s tail with a separate three-wicket burst.
The legendary paceman finished off his 10 overs with three maidens, conceding just 34 runs with seven wickets to bag the ‘Player of the Match’ award as the ‘Black Caps’ sealed the deal by 204 runs.
