Maheesh Theekshana becomes 2nd Sri Lankan spinner to take ODI hat-trick

Maheesh Theekshana scripted history during the second ODI against New Zealand in Hamilton, becoming the second Sri Lankan spinner after Wanindu Hasaranga to pick up an ODI hat-trick. The mystery spinner accounted for Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith and Matt Henry over two overs (35 and 37) to achieve the rare feat. 

Theekshana finished with figures of 4/44 in his eight overs, as his spell helped Sri Lanka restrict New Zealand to 255 in 37 overs. Hasaranga took his ODI hat-trick back in 2017 against Zimbabwe in Galle. 

It is only the fourth ODI hat-trick away from home for a Sri Lankan cricketer; Theekshana is the seventh Sri Lankan to scalp an ODI hat-trick. Lasith Malinga rules the roost, with three ODI hat-tricks, the only player in the sport's history to have achieved this feat. Interestingly, it is also only the second ODI hat-trick in New Zealand, after Danny Morrison’s feat in 1994 at Napier. 

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) recruit’s hat-trick meant that Sri Lankan players have the most hat-tricks in the history of ODI cricket, surpassing Pakistan and Australia (six each). It will come as good news to RR, who picked him to fill the shoes of Ravichandran Ashwin, who moved to Chennai Super Kings.