Lockie Ferguson Became Fifth New Zealand Bowler To Take A Hatrick, Blocking Lanka In A Low Scoring Thriller

Express seamer Lockie Ferguson became the fifth New Zealand bowler to take a hat-trick in men’s T20I during the 2nd T20 against Sri Lanka at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla on Sunday 10th November. His sensational hat trick helped the visitors block Lanka in a low-scoring thriller chase of 109 runs. He joined the elite list of Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Michael Bracewell, and Matt Henry to achieve the feat.

Sri Lankan skipper Asalanka won the toss and invited the Kiwis to bat first to fold them for a mere 108 runs as leggie Wanindu Hasaranga and seamer Matheesha Pathirana ran through the middle and lower orders to pick up 4/17 and 3/11 respectively in their spell of four overs. Regular strikes from the opponent bowlers did not let the Blackcaps batters stitch a big partnership and finally, they succumbed to pressure.

Initially, the target that seemed easy to chase turned out to be a tricky one when Lockie Ferguson first dismissed Kusal Perera behind the wickets in the last ball of the sixth over and then got out Kamindu Mendis and Asalanka in the first two balls of the eighth over to accomplish his hat trick, leaving the hosts reeling on 36/4 at the end of the over. All the Kiwi bowlers delivered on the tough line and length to catch them into shackles and bring the equation down to eight runs in the last six balls. Part-time spinner Phillips bowled miraculously and took three wickets in five balls to end the vistors’ chase in the penultimate over and New Zealand registered a five-run victory to level the series 1-1.