The delivery Trent Boult bowled to get his 300th Test wicket was as memorable as the milestone itself. He came around the wicket to Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The ball pitched outside off stump, and swerved in, talking like only Boult can make the red cherry talk.
A fist pump followed as the crowd roared. After the initial high-fives, came two big hugs. From Tim Southee, his mate since the Under-17 days, and from Ross Taylor, playing his last Test, one who has held 19 catches in the slips off Boult over the years. As the crowd continued clapping, his team-mates did too, forming a circle around Boult. The umpire handed him the ball, which Boult took his time holding up.
"It definitely means a lot," Boult said after the day's play, having picked up his ninth five-for in Tests to help roll Bangladesh over for 126 in reply to New Zealand's 521 for 6 declared. "I am sure it will sink in over the coming days. It comes with a bit of hard work, fitness and pride in your performance.
"It is very special to have Timmy (Southee) out there with me this afternoon. To join the names like Daniel (Vettori) and Sir Richard (Hadlee) is also very special. Winning the Test match and getting back in the series will be special as well. It is definitely the focus at the moment."
Boult said that joining New Zealand's 300-wicket club, which also has Southee, made it extra special. "He is pretty proud of me. Nice to join him," Boult said. "Very special to have him out there this afternoon. I am sure we can enjoy a few more wickets together. Our friendship has dated back many years. I think we met towards the end of Under-17s. We have had a career to date of probably ten-plus years underneath the black cap. I am also learning off him.
"I thought the way the boys started, to get a couple of wickets early, not really letting up on the pressure, I suppose we did what we spoke about. It is simply to get them playing on the front foot, and bowl for each other at each end" Trent Boult
"He has an incredible work ethic. His record speaks for itself. It comes from a lot of hard yards, and his desire to be better every day. It is always a great feeling when both of us are taking wickets. Those have been the best memories." Southee ended the innings with 3 for 28 to Boult's 5 for 43.
Boult began Bangladesh's top-order demolition on the day by removing Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto, while Southee got rid of Mohammad Naim and Mominul Haque. The visitors were 11 for 4 at that stage, and Boult removed Litton Das after tea to make it 27 for 5.
He said that while the pace and bounce on the pitch helped, it's the breeze that blows across Hagley Oval that assists swing bowlers like him and Southee.
"That's the beauty of Test cricket. The little subtleties that come with different grounds, winds," Boult said. "The wicket obviously offers a bit of bounce with grass on it. I thought the way the boys started, to get a couple of wickets early, not really letting up on the pressure, I suppose we did what we spoke about. It is simply to get them playing on the front foot, and bowl for each other at each end. Only half the job done but it was a satisfying afternoon.
"I am generally trying to pitch the ball up. Get a bit of movement in the air. The wicket offers a bit of bounce. It has a good grass covering. The wind is the big thing for us as a bowling unit. It is generally left to right. It suits me and Timmy nicely, and then [Neil] Wagner and KJ [Kyle Jamieson] come in behind to do the stuff they do."