Hamilton: Sri Lankan spinner Mahesh Theekshana etched his name in the record books with a hattrick against New Zealand in the second ODI. He clocked the first hat trick of 2025 and also became the seventh Sri Lankan to take a hat trick in 50-over cricket. Also, he helped Sri Lanka restrict New Zealand on 255/9 after they got to a solid start from the top order.
The match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was reduced to 37 overs due to the interruption of rain. The off-spinner scripted the tale of his hattrick in the 35th and 37th over. He took two wickets on the last two deliveries of the 35th over and then also picked a dismissal on the first delivery of the 37th over.
Mitchell Santner was the first victim in Theekshana's hattrick as he departed back to the pavilion after scoring 15 runs from 20 balls. Next, he dismissed Nathan Smith on the last delivery of the 35th over. He then followed it up with the opening delivery of the 37th over by dismissing Matt Henry.
Theekshana conceded 44 runs from his spell of eight overs and picked up four wickets. He provided a crucial wicket of Mark Chapman, who played a knock of 52 runs from 62 deliveries. New Zealand posted 255/9 from 37 overs while batting first with the duo of Rachin Ravindra and Chapman.
Sri Lanka struggled from the start while chasing a target of 256 and lost wickets in quick succession. Kamindu Mendis played a valiant knock of 64 runs in a losing cause while wickets kept tumbling from the other end.
