New Zealand's ace pacer Trent Boult etched his name in cricket history by becoming the third fastest bowler to snare 200 wickets in ODI cricket during the World Cup 2023 against Bangladesh on Friday, October 13. Boult stepped on this big milestone in the ongoing ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh in Chennai.
The weather was sultry, but it didn't deter Boult’s spirit as he tasted the glory after dismissing Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy in the 38th over. The knuckle ball from Boult left the batter stunned. Boult had already set the tone of the match by taking the prized wicket of Litton Das on the very first ball of the game, sending him back without a score.
Spanning 11 years since his ODI debut, Boult reached the 200-wicket milestone in his 107th ODI game. By doing so, he smashed another record: He became the fastest New Zealander, surpassing Kyle Mills who reached this mark in 135 matches back in 2012.
BOWLERS TO NOTCH FASTEST 200 ODI WICKETS
Mitchell Starc - 102 matches
Saqlain Mushtaq - 104 matches
Trent Boult - 107 matches
Brett Lee - 112 matches
Alan Donad - 117 matches
The World Cup 2023 began on a slightly muted note for Boult as he managed only a single wicket against England and failed to claim any against the Netherlands. Nonetheless, New Zealand's overall performance was commendable, marking a victorious beginning to their World Cup journey in India.
Besides Boult, other Kiwi players showcased their prowess in the match against Bangladesh. Lockie Ferguson, finding his groove, clinched three wickets, destabilising Bangladesh's top order. Simultaneously, Mitchell Santner’s economical bowling, conceding mere 31 runs in his 10 overs, coupled with Taskin Ahmed's wicket, kept the opposition in check. On Bangladesh's side, Mushfiqur Rahim emerged as a beacon, scoring a robust 66 off 75 deliveries. Bangladesh posted a total of 246 for Kiwis to chase.
Reflecting on Boult's illustrious journey, he played an instrumental role in leading Kiwis to 2019 World Cup final. Snaring 17 wickets in 11 matches, Boult's contribution, especially during the powerplay, was crucial.
Interestingly, despite his monumental contribution, Boult was included in the ODI World Cup 2023 squad without a central contract. In August 2022, prioritising personal commitments and battling exhaustion from continuous overseas tours, he chose to opt-out of his central contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
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