Tim Southee becomes first bowler to claim 150 wickets in T20Is

In a scintillating display of pace bowling mastery, New Zealand’s veteran cricketer Tim Southee forged his name in history by becoming the first bowler to reach the milestone of 150 wickets in T20 internationals. He achieved this feat during the opening T20I clash against Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday. Displaying his artistry with the ball, he delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with figures of 4 for 25.

The defining moment came in the 18th over of Pakistan’s run chase when he claimed his third victim, Abbas Afridi, caught by Matt Henry at deep point. This wicket marked his 150th in T20Is, establishing him as a trailblazer in this format. The 35-year-old’s lethal bowling didn’t stop there, as he continued to dismantle the Pakistani lineup, dismissing Haris Rauf in the same over.

This stellar performance led to Pakistan being bundled out for 180 runs. Earlier in the game, the right-arm pacer had removed the dangerous Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed. The speedster’s T20I career boasts an impressive record of 151 wickets in 118 matches, with an economy rate of 8.12. With this achievement, he now stands atop the list of T20I wicket-takers, surpassing the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Rashid Khan.

Clinical New Zealand outsmarts Pakistan in first T20I

Notably, Southee had previously joined the record books as the third bowler to secure a T20I hat-trick in 2010, dismissing Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, and Umar Akmal. In addition to his T20 prowess, he holds the second-highest Test wicket-taker position for New Zealand, boasting 374 scalps, and ranks third in ODIs with 221 victims.

In the first T20I against Pakistan, Southee’s clinical bowling performance played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s victory by 46 runs. His efforts, combined with contributions from Adam Milne and Ben Sears, restricted Pakistan to 180. The Kiwis, batting first, posted a formidable total of 226 in their allotted 20 overs, with Daryl Mitchell and captain Kane Williamson leading the charge with impressive half-centuries. Mitchell’s blitzkrieg included 61 off 27 balls, featuring four sixes and an equal number of boundaries.