New Zealand captain Tim Southee joined Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hayden on the world list with six at bats, but his remarkable batting attack was not enough for his side on Sunday.
Southee lit up a bleak Basin Reserve in Wellington, hitting six sixes in his knockout of 73 off 49 balls on day three of the second test against England.
It was his second-highest Test score, within range of his equally fast 77 not out on Test debut against England at Napier in 2008.
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New Zealand’s Tim Southee during his attack on day three.
Just when it looked like Southee and Tom Blundell – who scored 98 for the eighth wicket – would lead the Black Caps past the next 236, the skipper offered Zak Crawley a catch at Stuart Broad’s bowling. He was dropped by Jack Leach on the right foot in the same over.
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Southee joined Blundell with New Zealand in big trouble at 103-7, opening up on Sunday morning.
He took three sixes from one Leach and reached 50 from just 39 balls.
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Tim Southee acknowledges his half century with 39 balls against England.
In the next over he hooked Ollie Robinson for his sixth six, his 82nd in test cricket, joining England’s Flintoff and Australia’s Hayden in an equal 10th place in the world. Viv Richards (84) and Chris Cairns (87) are next on the list.
England captain Ben Stokes passed his coach Brendon McCullum’s record of 107 at the first test won by England by 267 runs.
In his 93rd Test, Southee’s knock was his seventh half century.
The Black Caps were dismissed for 209 on Sunday, with Stokes forcing the follow-up with New Zealand 226 behind.