Trent Boult: Didn't think I would get five wickets

Trent Boult celebrates with teammate Corey Anderson

Auckland, Feb 28 (IANS) New Zealand pacer Trent Boult, who was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his brilliant bowling performance against Australia in a World Cup Pool A game here on Saturday, said he did not think he would be able to clinch a fifer.

Boult, 25, clinched his first five-wicket haul in his 20th One-Day International (ODI), giving away just 27 runs from 10 overs which also included three maidens to wreak havoc on the Australian batting order. In his second spell, he picked up Glen Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh and then ran through the tailenders, bowling out Australia for 151.

"We tied them down very nicely and in my mind was to come back in the second spell and take wickets, didn't think I would get five," said Boult at the post-match presentation ceremony.

New Zealand had their share of hiccups while chasing as they scraped through to win with just one wicket in hand. The left-arm seamer said they were being rewarded for the hard work that they put in last year and are looking forward to getting some more wins under their belt.

"We pulled it back nicely and everyone chipped in to make it a chase-able total. We've been working well for the last 6-12 months and move forward to the game next Sunday to get some more wins," he concluded.

New Zealand, who now have four wins from as many matches in the World Cup, face Afghanistan in their next encounter on March 8 at Napier.