Twitter Reacts as Neil Wagner Rattles Windies in Wellington
Dec 31, 2018 at 1:59 PM
Micro-blogging website Twitter users go crazy after New Zealand Test specialist, and fast bowler Neil Wagner has blown away Windies batsmen by claiming his career-best figures of seven for 39 in 14.4 overs.
In the first Test of the two-match series at Basin Reserve on Friday, the 31-year-old Pretoria-born left-arm bowler Wagner picked per wicket at the strike-rate of 12.5.
The previous best figures in Test cricket for Wagner was six four 41 which came against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2016.
However, Richard Hadlee is topping the charts with the remarkable figures of seven for 23 in 8.3 overs, as his strike-rate per-wicket has been 9.5.
Former fast bowler Hadlee registered the seven-wicket haul against India in 1976 at the same venue.
(Read Also: Neil Wagner Puts New Zealand on Top on the First Day)
Interestingly, Wagner’s seven-wicket haul is overall fourth-best figures in Tests for New Zealand team.
Wagner clean bowled Windies captain Holder on nought, after seeing debutant Sunil Ambris trudging off following the hit-wicket dismal when he faced the first ball of his Test career.
Moreover, Hadlee is topping the charts with the most number of wickets (best figures) in an innings which came in 1985-86 against Australia in Brisbane that eventually saw him claiming nine for 52.
According to the statistics, so far New Zealand bowlers have had claimed seven-wicket haul or more for 17 times in the longer version of the game.
Following the stellar rise since 2016, Wagner has claimed four five-wicket hauls.
Subsequently, since past one year, Wagner claimed 70 scalps at an average of 22.32 in 15 Test matches.
At one stage Jason Holder-led Windies were 79 for two, but it was Wagner you crushed the opponent with his devastating spell.
Removing opener Kraig Brathwaite (24 off 70) on the Windies score of 59 in 21.5 overs, Wagner went on to claim next four wickets after dismissing Kieran Powell was dismissed by Trent Boult on 42 off 79 balls.
Windies was bundled out for 134 in 45.4 overs, as Kiwis are trailing by 49 runs when they finished the day one on 85 for two in 38 overs.
In 41 Test innings, Wagner claimed 137 wickets at an average of 27.41. Overall, he claimed five five-wicket hauls since his Test debut in 2012 against Windies.
(Read Further: Suspended Ben Stokes In Talks To Play Club Cricket In New Zealand)
This is how Twittersphere responded after a brilliant performance with the ball by Wagner:
https://twitter.com/Bazmccullum/status/936403159827693569
Neil Wagner's 7/39 at Wellington today is the fifth best bowling performance in a Test innings in New Zealand and the best by any left arm bowler in New Zealand!#NZvWI
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 1, 2017
NZ vs WI Day 1:
1. Sunil Ambris become first player who got for Golden duck by hit wicket.
2. Neil Wagner picked career best 7/39
3. West Indies 134 all out
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) December 1, 2017
Neil Wagner to fan – ‘You have a good day?’
Fan – ‘Not as good as you.’
Touché #nzvwi pic.twitter.com/Q56Fyao6GR— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/936472314572505088
Career best figures of 7-39 for Neil Wagner 🙌
West Indies bowled out for 134 midway through the second session.
The reply shortly… #NZvWI pic.twitter.com/dfv0Sp5m2s— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/T_dogNZ/status/936498484697473024
Top bowling @NeilWagner13 @EssexCricket ☝️🏏
— The Cruncher (@TheCruncher76) December 1, 2017
7⃣/3⃣9⃣
Superb bowling performance from Neil Wagner💪🏽#NZvWI— Rahish R (@Rahish_R) December 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/abijith_kishan/status/936494593050210305
Best bowling figures by a NEW ZEALAND player in Tests
R Hadlee 9/52 in 1985
R Hadlee 7/23 in 1976
C Cairns 7/27 in 1999
NEIL WAGNER 7/39 TODAY#NZvWI— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) December 1, 2017