Lockie Ferguson shone with his maiden T20I hat-trick as New Zealand defended their lowest score in T20Is on Sunday, November 10. The Black Caps won by five runs after successfully defending 108 in the second game at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla.
Their previous lowest score defended was 120 in May 2010 against New Zealand in Lauderhill. With the win, the Kiwis also recovered from their four-wicket defeat as the T20I series finished at 1-1.
After being asked to bat first, New Zealand were bowled out for 108 in 19.3 overs. Five out of their top six batters failed to enter double digits as the visitors once found themselves at 52 for six. Wanindu Hasaranga rocked them after taking a double wicket-maiden in his first over.
He also got the wickets of Mitchell Hay and Will Young to finish with figures of 4-1-17-4. Young was the standout batter for the visitors as he made 30 off 32 with three fours.
Skipper Mitchell Santner and Josh Clarkson made valuable contributions with knocks of 19 and 24 respectively. Matheesha Pathirana took three wickets while Nuwan Thushara accounted for two scalps.
Chasing a modest total, Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals and could hardly put enough pressure on the Black Caps. Pathum Nissanka held one end up, but he did not get enough support from the others as only three batters got into double digits.
Ferguson dismissed Kusal Perera to take his first wicket in the last ball of the powerplay. Thereafter, he returned to get Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka, making sure that took the hat-trick.
Nissanka scored 52 runs off 51 balls and kept the home team in the game until the very end. With eight needed off the last over, the Islanders had more than a decent chance of going past the finish line, especially with a well-set Nissanka in the middle.
But once Glenn Phillips dismissed him in the second ball, New Zealand did not look back. Phillips’ figures of 1.5-0-6-3 jolted Sri Lanka big time. Michael Bracewell also took two crucial wickets of Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dunith Wellalage.
