New Zealand pacer Tim Southee marked a special milestone in his farewell Test match by equalling Chris Gayle's record for the most sixes in Test cricket. On the opening day of the third Test against England at Seddon Park, Hamilton, Southee played a fiery knock of 23 runs off just 10 balls, smashing three sixes in the process.

With those three massive hits, Southee brought his career total to 98 sixes, matching Gayle's tally in the longest format of the game. The elite list now sees Southee tied with Gayle in fourth place, with only Adam Gilchrist (100), Brendon McCullum (107), and Ben Stokes (133) ahead of him. Southee is now just two sixes away from becoming only the fourth cricketer to reach 100 Test sixes, a milestone that could surpass Gilchrist’s mark with one more hit.

Coming to the crease at 272/8 in New Zealand’s first innings, Southee wasted no time in accelerating the scoring. Facing Ben Stokes, Southee launched his third delivery over mid-wicket for a massive six. Two balls later, he repeated the feat with another powerful shot over deep square-leg. In the next over, Gus Atkinson tried to bounce him out, but Southee responded by smashing yet another six, this time over mid-wicket, to tie with Gayle on 98 career sixes.

Southee's quickfire 23 came at a strike rate of 230, making it the third-fastest Test innings by a New Zealand batter with a minimum of 10 balls faced. He eventually fell to Atkinson, mistiming a slog, with Brydon Carse taking the catch.