A wild swing at Nuwan Pradeep was dragged through mid-wicket for two, followed by a swing over long-on for six, matched by a tonk over long-off and culminating in a whack behind square for four.
How is this erratic talent best harnessed?
Southee could be a useful but expendable force floating in the order on docile pitches while using minimal deliveries.
In 23 of his 54 ODI innings from 99 matches he has struck at better than a run a ball. He is already third on New Zealand's list of most test sixes with 55, behind Brendon McCullum (100) and Chris Cairns (87).
Let's drill into his ODI batting statistics. His innings fit the Goldilocks principle that something must fall within certain margins, rather than reaching extremes.
His maximum stay at the wicket is 30 balls.
From 0 to 10 balls he can't find a rhythm, often swinging blindly in the latter stages to average 6.36 with a strike rate of 92 in 43 innings.
There are only four instances of enduring 21 to 30 balls but he can outdo his welcome; he averages 27 but his strike rate drops to 80.
However, when Southee spends 11-20 balls at the crease, he is 'just right', averaging 31.25 with a strike rate of 124.
Doug Bracewell and Adam Milne eked out an admirable 42 from 44 balls for the eighth wicket, but it left a question mark over what Southee might have achieved with an 11-20 ball licence to tee off.
Perhaps the T20s against Sri Lanka and Pakistan could provide a laboratory to experiment with a world title on the horizon?
