WATCH: THIS Royal Challengers Bangalore star and Virat Kohli’s teammate takes hat-trick to derail Sri Lanka in 2nd T20 match
New Zealand came from behind to level their two-match T20I series against Sri Lanka at Dambulla on Sunday. The unlikely hero of the win was New Zealand and former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Lockie Ferguson.
The fast bowlers, who was Virat Kohli’s teammate at RCB in IPL 2024, picked up a T20I hat-trick across two overs, starting with Kusal Perera for 3 off the final ball of the 6th over. Then off the first two balls of the 8th over, Ferguson dismissed Kamindu Mendis for 1 and Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka for a first-ball duck to complete his hat-trick and reduce the home side to 34 for 4, chasing 109 to win.
WATCH Lockie Ferguson claim a hat-trick in 2nd T20I vs Sri Lanka HERE…
Hat-trick!
Lockie Ferguson has just brought this game to life with a crazy couple of overs. #SLvNZonFanCode pic.twitter.com/8wcOpjpiLQ
— FanCode (@FanCode) November 10, 2024
The low-scoring thriller saw New Zealand emerge victorious by bundling out Sri Lanka for just 103 runs in 19.5 overs. Despite bowling only two overs due to a calf injury, Ferguson made a significant impact by claiming a hat-trick, finishing with impressive figures of 3/7. In 7 matches in IPL 2024, Ferguson had picked up 9 wickets for RCB.
Mitchell Santner struck first, dismissing Kusal Mendis for 2. Ferguson then took centre stage, removing Kusal Perera for 3, Kamindu Mendis for 1, and Charith Asalanka to complete his hat-trick. At 50 runs in 9.3 overs, Sri Lanka seemed on course to chase the target, but the wickets kept tumbling.
Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips further dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup. Bracewell dismissed Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who contributed 15 runs, and Dunith Wellalage for 1. Zakary Foulkes, playing his fourth T20I, claimed the crucial wicket of Wanindu Hasaranga for 3.
Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka fought valiantly, scoring a gritty 52 off 51 balls, including six boundaries. However, his effort fell short as he was dismissed by Phillips in the final over. Phillips’s heroics in the last over saw him pick up all his three wickets, dismissing Matheesha Pathirana for 0 and Maheesh Theekshana for 14.
In addition to Ferguson and Phillips, Bracewell took 2 wickets, while Santner and Foulkes chipped in with one wicket each. New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack ensured that Sri Lanka fell short by five runs, handing the Kiwis a remarkable victory.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first in Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Kiwis lost wickets regularly as knocks from Will Young (30 in 32 balls, with three fours) and Josh Clarkson (24 in 25 balls, with two sixes) took NZ to 108/10 in their 19.3 overs.