Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana picked up a hat-trick during the second ODI against New Zealand at Seddon Park, Hamilton today (January 8), a first in the country in over three decades.
The second ODI of the three-match series was cut short by rain, reducing it to a 37-over game. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first. After the early wicket of Will Young in the fifth over, Mark Chapman (62 off 52) and Rachin Ravindra (79 off 63) provided New Zealand a strong platform.
Theekshana, who opened the bowling alongside Asitha Fernando, removed Chapman in the 20th over to break the 112-run partnership. Some decent middle order partnerships interspersed with regular wickets followed, bringing New Zealand to a strong total of 247-5 by over 34.4. With 14 balls remaining in the innings, they would have hoped to get over the 270-run mark, but were restricted by a Theekshana hat-trick.
