WELLINGTON – A New Zealand-based fast bowler rewrote the country’s first-class record books Wednesday by taking five wickets in a single over, all without conceding a run. South African-born quick Neil Wagner, playing for Otago, tore through the Wellington batting line up in the last over before lunch during a four-day fixture in Queenstown. Wellington began the over on 136/4 chasing Otago’s first innings of 441 and they it at 136/9.
Wagner, 25, has Stewart Rhodes caught in the first ball of the over then clean bowled the next four batsmen — Justin Austin-Smellie, Jeetan Patel, Illi Tugaga and Mark Gillespie.
Only Gillespie survived one ball, blocking a Wagner delivery before falling in the final ball of the over.
To cap his performance, Wagner then claimed another wicket after the break as Wellington was bowled out for 148, with the bowler finishing the day boasting career-best figures of six for 36.
The previous best performance in an over by a bowler in New Zealand was during a Test in the summer of 1929-30, when Englishman Maurice Allom took four wickets in five balls against New Zealand at Lancaster Park in Christchurch.
