Hat-trick hero Ferguson says 'insane' T20 win massive for NZ against SL
The Hindu
New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson takes hat-trick to secure series draw against Sri Lanka in low-scoring thriller.
New Zealand's hat-trick hero Lockie Ferguson said defending a total of 108 to win the second Twenty20 match and draw the series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Sunday (November 10, 2024) was "massive" for an inexperienced Black Caps team.
Trailing 1-0 in the series after a four-wicket loss at the same ground on Saturday (November 10, 2024), New Zealand were only able to put a modest score on the board as Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took 4-17 despite being clearly hampered by injury.
Ferguson struck to dismiss Kusal Perera at the end of Sri Lanka's sixth over, however, and sent back Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka with the first two balls of the eighth to become the sixth New Zealander to take a T20 hat-trick.
"Obviously it was split over two overs, so there probably wasn't the same excitement you would normally get around a hat- trick," paceman Ferguson said.
"I probably bowled the worst ball for the actual hat-trick ball, a little strangle down leg side, but I'll definitely take it."
A calf injury brought Ferguson's evening to an end soon afterwards but all-rounder Glenn Phillips chipped in with three wickets from four balls in the final over, including that of opener Pathum Nissanka for 52, to dismiss Sri Lanka for 103. It was the lowest tally the Black Caps had ever successfully defended in a T20 international and added to an upbeat mood in New Zealand cricket after the test side stunned India with a series sweep and the women's team won the T20 World Cup.
"It was insane, really," Ferguson said of the victory by five runs. "I guess when we went out to bowl, (captain Mitch Santner) said, 'let's make them work really hard for it'. It was a pretty amazing victory."
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