Tim Southee's six-hitting spectacle surpasses Viv Richards in record-breaking feat during BAN vs NZ 1st Test Series

In a thrilling encounter between Bangladesh and New Zealand in the 1st Test at Sylhet, the spotlight shifted from Bangladesh's historic victory to an unexpected milestone achieved by New Zealand's seasoned pacer, Tim Southee. The veteran cricketer not only showcased his bowling prowess but also etched his name in the record books by surpassing West Indies legend Viv Richards in an astonishing batting feat.

Bangladesh emerged triumphant by 150 runs, securing their maiden Test win at home against the Kiwis. The victory was propelled by exceptional performances from Taijul Islam with the ball and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto's heroic century. However, it was Southee's unexpected batting spectacle that added an intriguing twist to the narrative.

Before the match, Southee was on the verge of equaling Viv Richards' record of 84 sixes in Test cricket. In a stunning turn of events during the 1st Test, Southee not only equaled but surpassed Richards by smashing two sixes in the second innings. With 85 maximums to his name, Southee now stands at 9th place in the list of most sixes in Test cricket.

What makes Southee's achievement even more remarkable is that he is the lone bowler in the top 10 of this elite list. Among his compatriots, Southee now ranks third, trailing behind Brendon McCullum (107 sixes) and Chris Cairns (87 sixes).

While Southee's batting heroics added a silver lining for New Zealand, the overarching narrative of the match was Bangladesh's historic triumph. The Bangla Tigers, led by Mahmudul Hasan Joy's top-score and Taijul Islam's impactful bowling, secured their first Test win at home against New Zealand.