(Cricket news) Tim Southee broke Lasith Malinga’s record of wickets in T20 international matches, Malinga had taken 107 wickets in the format as Southee picked up a wicket and he is now only behind Shakib Al Hasan who has 117 wickets. Southee now has 108 wickets in 91 matches. He is the leading wicket taker for New Zealand and is the fourth bowler to take 100 or more wickets in T20.
He is also now the leading wicket taker in T20 among current and past pace bowlers as Mustafizur Rahman comes in second among active players with 84 wickets. He picked up his 108th wicket as he took the wicket of Shreyas Iyer in the 1st T20 between India and New zealand.
Southee played his first T20 in 2008 against England where he picked up the wicket of Paul Collingwood. Even though he only took a wicket against India in the opening T20 match, Southee has been an important figure in the bowling department and especially amongst the pacers. He is mostly a new ball bowler and adds pace with reverse swing.
Southee has also scored five fifties in Test matches and one in ODI’s. He is currently leading the Kiwis and will look to get back in the remaining two T20’s. Southee has captained the side in 18 T20 matches with 12 wins and 6 losses, with key players resting the pacer has been leading the side and has done it quite well. He did seem optimistic when asked about the loss in the first T20.
“The way we started with the ball wasn’t what we wanted, did well to claw it back in the middle, took it deep and to the last over was a positive. We set higher expectations so a bit off the field, we have been very, very good at fielding in the last few matches,” said Southee on Wednesday night.
The 32 year old has had an experience of over 13 years and has taken 21 wickets in 16 matches this year. Southee and Trent Boult have been match winners for the Black caps as they have been a consistent duo. Southee bowls around 135 – 140 km/hour and with the swing it can be a tough time for the batters. He is 9 matches away from playing his hundredth match in T20 and will be the third from his side and ninth overall.
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