Mahesh Thekshana scores a stunning hat-trick in the ODI against New Zealand, joining the elite list

Mahesh Thekshana on Wednesday (January 8) scored a brilliant hat-trick in the second ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

The Sri Lankan scored a hat-trick in two overs in the match that was reduced to 37 runs a side due to rain. He picked two wickets on the last ball of the 35th over before taking another wicket on the first ball of the 37th over to complete his first hat-trick in ODIs.

On the fifth ball of the 35th over, Mahesh Thekshana dismissed New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner for 20. In the next delivery, he dismissed Nathan Smith for a golden duck. In the hat-trick ball, the right-arm spinner sent Matt Henry back for a single to complete the feat.

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He went on to finish the match with impressive figures of 4 for 44 in 8 overs. It was a brilliant performance from Mahesh Thekshana after his struggles in the T20I series against New Zealand. In the three-match series, he could only pick 2 wickets.

He picked up these two wickets in the first T20I itself before being rendered wicketless in the next two matches. He also conceded 52 points in Game 2 before going off the mark for 33 points in Game 3.

In the first ODI, Sri Lanka decided to drop him from the playing eleven. But the visitors recalled Thekshana to the team after suffering a 9-wicket loss. The spinner replaced Lahiru Kumara in the team after the bowler was left wicketless in the first ODI.

Watch: Mahesh Thekshana scores a stunning ODI hat-trick

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Mahesh Thekshana joins the elite list:

The hat-trick against New Zealand helped Mahesh Thekshana join the elite list of bowlers who have achieved the feat in international cricket. He became the seventh player from Sri Lanka to score a hat-trick in the 50-over format.

Chaminda Vas was the first Sri Lankan bowler to achieve the feat in an ODI, taking three wickets in three deliveries against Zimbabwe in 2001. Later in 2003, Vas scored another hat-trick against Bangladesh.

Lasith Malinga scored three hat-tricks for Sri Lanka. Other Sri Lanka bowlers who have scored hat-tricks in ODIs are Farvez Maharov, Thisara Perera, Wanendu Hasaranga and Shihan Madushanka.

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New Zealand Post Total Competitiveness:

Talking about the ongoing second ODI, New Zealand posted a competitive total. The Black Caps scored 255/9 in the allotted 37 overs. Rasheen Ravindra top-scored for his team, scoring 79 runs off 63 balls. Mark Chapman also impressed with the bat, scoring 62 off 52 balls. For Sri Lanka, Mahesh Thekshana was the choice of the bowlers.