In the second ODI of the current series against New Zealand, Maheesh Theekshana made history by recording a hat-trick. The desired accomplishment occurred in different overs. By the end of the 30th over, the right-arm off-break’s figures were 6-0-37-1, bringing the game down to 37 overs per side.

Before Theekshana was sent on for his seventh over, the preceding over had been bowled out for sixteen runs. pulled things back for Sri Lanka, though, in a fashion. The initial delivery missed everyone and went for a boundary. In order to restrict the Kiwi hitters to three singles, Theekshana bounced back wonderfully by altering his pace and direction in the next three deliveries.

The fielders for his team helped with all three of Theekshana’s dismissals. Santner took the first wicket with a brilliant grab at deep-cover, then Kamindu Mendis made a fantastic diving catch to collect Nathan Smith, who was out on a carrom ball, over point. After Matt Henry miscued another carrom ball, Theekshana came back to bowl the last over of the innings and finished the hat-trick set with the assistance of another strong effort in the deep from substitute fielder Fernando.

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New Zealand was reduced to 255 at the close of the innings as Theekshana gave up just four runs in the remaining deliveries.

This marks the first ODI hat-trick since Wessly Madhevere of Zimbabwe recorded one in March 2023. In the 50-over format, only Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga have recorded multiple hat-tricks. Two of Malinga’s three hattrics actually occurred in 2011. Theekshana has now achieved an ODI hat-trick, making him the seventh Sri Lankan to bag an ODI hattrick.

Sri Lankan bowlers with ODI hat-tricks

List of men’s ODI hat-tricks