New Zealand’s left-arm pacer Trent Boult became the first Kiwi bowler to claim 50 wickets in the ICC World Cup 2023 following his economical spell against Sri Lanka on Thursday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis became his 50th victim in the ODI World Cup, that too in just 28 innings. Only Australia’s Mitchell Starc (19) and former Sri Lanka speedster Lasith Malinga (25) have managed to claim 50 wickets in fewer innings than him.

Boult’s 50th wicket also made him just the sixth bowler to do so in the ODI World Cup. Former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath is the leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup with 71 scalps to his name. He also became the third Blackcaps bowler to have more than 600 wickets in international cricket.

New Zealand’s star-studded pace bowling attack set the tone of the game picking up early wickets restricting Sri Lanka’s hopes of putting up a massive score.