6 wickets, 4 runs and 15 balls: Watch how Trent Boult ripped apart Sri Lanka

Trent Boult produced a spell for the ages as he decimated Sri Lanka on day 2 of the second Test in Hagley Oval, Christchurch to give New Zealand a crucial 74-run lead as Kane Williamson’s side looked to create a record and win their fourth consecutive series in 2018, something which New Zealand have never achieved in their history. Boult’s spell came in a space of one devastating passage of play in which he picked up all six wickets in just 15 balls to usher a dramatic Sri Lanka collapse. In the process, he just conceded four runs as Dinesh Chandimal’s side had no answer to the left-arm bowler’s reverse swing.

Sri Lanka resumed on 88/4 and seemed to be in a strong position after they had bowled New Zealand out for 178, with Suranga Lakmal taking a five-wicket haul. After conceding a boundary in the first over, Boult and new ball partner Tim Southee bowled three consecutive maidens as New Zealand eyed more wickets. However, Boult struck when Roshen Silva edged a full and swinging delivery to Southee at third slip and New Zealand had gotten the opening. What followed afterwards was absolute carnage.

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In the 39^th over of the innings and Boult’s 14^th, the left-armer tore through the Sri Lankan lower order. Niroshan Dickwella was lured to drive a full ball and the edge flew to third slip where Southee pulled off a stunning one-handed catch. On the fifth ball, Dilruwan Perera shouldered arms to a delivery that swung back in and in the very next ball, Boult trapped Suranga Lakmal  (0)  LBW with an inswinging yorker to finish with a triple-wicket maiden.

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Although Boult missed the hat-trick, he managed to get Dushmantha Chameera (0) LBW with another inswinging yorker and the 29-year-old wrapped up the innings by trapping Lahiru Kumara (0) in front as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 104, giving New Zealand a healthy lead. Boult’s spell of 2.3-1-4-6 proved his class and his 6/30 was his best figures in Tests, beating his previous mark of 6/32 which he achieved against England in the Pink Ball Test in Auckland at the start of the year when New Zealand bowled England out for 58.

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Here's NZ seamer Trent Boult taking six wickets for four runs in the space of 15 balls against Sri Lanka. #NZvSL
📽️: @FoxCricket pic.twitter.com/ENeMJF6zeX

— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) December 27, 2018