New Delhi: New Zealand leg-spinner Ash Sodhi entered the record books during the third T20I against the Bangladesh national cricket team in Dhaka on Saturday. Sodhi became New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket after claiming his 165th wicket in the shortest format, overtaking former fast bowler Tim Southee.
The historic moment came at the Sher-Bangla National Stadium when Sodhi dismissed Shamim Hussain during Bangladesh’s innings in a rain-shortened contest. The match was reduced to 15 overs per side due to rain interruptions, but Sodhi still managed to achieve the landmark and cement his reputation as one of New Zealand’s best T20 bowlers.Bangladesh struggled to establish a partnership and were eventually bowled out for 102 in 14.2 overs. Captain Laton Das played an attacking innings of 26 runs off 17 balls while Toheed Hardoy scored 33 runs off 24 balls. However, the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals and never really settled down after a shaky start.New Zealand’s bowling unit delivered a disciplined performance, with Josh Clarkson emerging as the standout bowler after taking three wickets for just nine runs in two overs. Nathan Smith and Ben Sears picked up two wickets each, while Sodhi finished with figures of 1/22 from his three overs.The Black Caps went into the match trailing 1-0 in the series after Bangladesh won the opening T20I, while the second match was abandoned due to rain. And despite losing wickets at intervals, New Zealand managed to chase down the target in 11.4 overs, winning the match by six wickets and subsequently clinching the series in the process.
