Trent Boult smashed a last-ball six in the Super Smash T20 tournament in New Zealand while playing for Northern Districts against Canterbury.
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Trent Boult is a world-class bowler, but he has also shown that he can also be a batsman in the mold of Javed Miandad. Last ball sixes to win the game is one of the most thrilling aspects of cricket. The most famous last-ball six was in 1986 when Javed Miandad hit Chetan Sharma for a six in Sharjah in an India vs Pakistan final. That six scarred a generation of Indian bowlers and swung the mental momentum towards Pakistan. In an IPL match between Rising Pune Supergiant and Punjab Kings, MS Dhoni did the double Javed Miandad when he blasted two sixes in the last two balls off Axar Patel to help the side register a famous win.
Now, Trent Boult has joined the list. During the Super Smash T20 tournament between Canterbury and Northern Districts in Mount Maunganui, a low-scoring encounter became the ultimate thriller. It all boiled down to Trent Boult in a match where bowlers dominated.
Before his heroics with the bat, Trent Boult contributed with the ball in a big way. He sent back Ken McClure and Chad Bowes cheaply. Canterbury continued to lose wickets as Leo Carter and skipper Cole McConchie were also sent back. Henry Nicholls was the key for Canterbury as he smashed three fours and two sixes in his whirlwind knock of 35 from 21 balls. His three fours and two sixes gave the side momentum but when he fell to Ish Sodhi, Canterbury was in trouble.
Sodhi, who had recorded figures of 4-1-5-2 in a Super Smash T20 match to become the most economical bowler, was also in fine form. Joe Walker, the right arm offbreak bowler from Waikato, picked up 3/13 as Canterbury finished on 107 in 17.2 overs.
Read | The 2019 World Cup hat-trick by Trent Boult
In response, Northern Districts were in fine form, with Katene Clarke blasting one four and four sixes. At 72/2 in the 13th over, Northern Districts were cruising. Then, came a collapse and a spectacular twist.
"Can you imagine..?"
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 23, 2021
Last man in facing the final delivery.
Already three wickets taken in the over.
Six needed off the final ball.
Trent Boult, you beauty! ? pic.twitter.com/KRYGcprusg
Blake Coburn took two wickets to unsettle Northern Districts. But, the situation was not grim. Matt Henry bowled brilliantly and ended with figures of 4-1-8-1 to build the pressure. When Cole McConchie and Todd Astle took wickets and did not concede a single boundary, the pressure mounted. At 100/6 in the 19th over, the game was evenly poised. Northern Districts needed eight runs and Canterbury needed four wickets. When Ed Nuttall took three wickets and conceded two runs in the first five balls, the match had swung spectacularly. On the fifth ball, Katene Clarke, who was injured limped out and hit a crucial single.
Trent Boult had faced only one delivery and he was on strike to Nuttall. The left-arm pacer bowled a length ball on the stumps. Boult unwinded and smashed the slog over deep midwicket for a big six. Northern Districts had achieved a spectacular win. So spectacular was the win that the on-air commentator said, “I am losing my mind.”
Boult, in his batting career, has hit a total of 36 sixes. For a No.11, that is a big amount. No wonder Boult did what he did in the match against Canterbury.
