NZ vs SL: Trent Boult records career-best figures

New Zealand left-arm quick Trent Boult on Thursday recorded career-best figures with a stunning six-wicket haul in 15 balls on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka here at the Hagley Oval.

Soon after the visitors resumed on 88 for the loss of four wickets and trailing the hosts by 90 runs, Boult, just before the end of 37th over, dismissed Roshen Silva (21) as the Sri Lankan batsman was caught at the third slip by Tim Southee.

Next in the line, the 29-year-old sent Niroshan Dickwella back to the pavilion on four. The wicketkeeper-batsman played a loose drive and got a thick edge, which was caught by Southee.

Boult then stole the show by taking two more wickets before ending the 39th over of the day and sent back Dilruwan Perera and Suranga Lakmal for a duck each.

The Black Caps' left-arm quick picked up two more-Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara, both for a duck respectively-in the 41st over of the day to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings on 104 runs.

Boult, who finished with figures of 6-30, now has 230 Test wickets, and sits at the fifth place on the Black Caps' all-time wicket-takers list, just behind Richard Hadlee (431), Daniel Vettori (361), Southee (235) and Chris Martin (233).

The two-match Test series is levelled at 0-0 as the first Test was spoiled by rain on the final day, December 19.

At the time of filing this story, New Zealand were leading by 222 runs with 9 wickets remaining.