Tim Southee overhauled Sir Richard Hadlee’s tally of most wickets in Tests at home as he took his 202nd Test wicket on day 3 of the first Test against South Africa in Christchurch.
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Tim Southee showed that he was the leader of the attack on day 3 of the South Africa Test in Christchurch. At the Hagley Oval, Tim Southee took 5/35 to end with his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests. Having made his debut with a five-wicket haul against England in Napier 2008, Tim Southee has gone on to become one of the best bowlers to have ever come out of New Zealand. When he took his third, fourth and fifth wickets, Tim Southee entered a very prestigious list of bowlers.
The wicket Kyle Verreynne for 30 made Southee only the second bowler after Sir Richard Hadlee to take 200 wickets at home in Tests. When Southee dismissed Kagiso Rabada for a pair, he equaled Hadlee’s tally of 201. History was created when Southee dismissed Glenton Stuurman for 11 to take his tally of wickets to 202.
Read – New Zealand End 18 Years of Pain Against South Africa
In the history of New Zealand Test cricket, Southee and Sir Richard Hadlee are the only two players to have ever crossed 200 wickets at home. Here is the full list of New Zealand bowlers with the most wickets at home.
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Best Haul | Average | Five-Wicket Hauls | 10-Wicket Hauls |
| Tim Southee | 47 | 202 | 6/62 | 26.57 | 8 | 0 |
| Sir Richard Hadlee | 43 | 201 | 7/23 | 22.96 | 15 | 3 |
| Trent Boult | 37 | 173 | 6/30 | 25.04 | 6 | 1 |
| Daniel Vettori | 57 | 159 | 7/87 | 37.11 | 6 | 2 |
| Neil Wagner | 36 | 159 | 7/39 | 25.98 | 6 | 0 |
The Blackcaps finally ended 18 years of pain as they defeated South Africa at Christchurch. The last time New Zealand had beaten South Africa, was in 2004 in Auckland. At that time, the New Zealand skipper was Stephen Fleming and the Protea skipper was Graeme Smith. This is New Zealand’s fifth win against South Africa in 90 years. But, remarkably, it was the first time that New Zealand had inflicted an innings defeat on the Proteas. Out of the five Test wins that New Zealand has against South Africa, only two have come at home.
Matt Henry had set the stage on fire when he took a record 7/23 on day 1 of the Test match. On the second day, Henry Nicholls blasted a century and Tom Blundell hit 96. Matt Henry contributed 58* from the No.11 batting position and shared a 94-run stand for the final wicket. Southee then chipped in and took a fifer.
The final match will be played on February 25 at the Hagley Oval. This represents a golden chance for New Zealand to win a series for the first time against South Africa.
