Despite ending on the losing side, Sri Lankan off break bowler Maheesh Theekshana stole the limelight with a stunning hat-trick against New Zealand in the second ODI of a three-match series against the Kiwis in Hamilton on Wednesday.

Maheesh Theekshana finished with figures of 4/44 in eight overs and helped restrict New Zealand to a total of 255/9 in a game that was shortened to 37 overs per side due to rain.

Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana were the most economical bowlers for the Sri Lankan cricket team. Hasaranga conceded just 39 runs in his eight overs and picked up two wickets. The spin duo’s spells played a crucial role in preventing the Kiwis from crossing the 300-run mark.

Both Hasaranga and Theekshana are members of the Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 squad.

New Zealand looked on course to surpass the 300-run mark thanks to brisk knocks early on from Rachin Ravindra (79 off 63 balls) and Mark Chapman (62 off 52 balls).

However, it was Theekshana who broke the crucial partnership between Ravindra and Chapman in the 20th over to halt New Zealand’s momentum.

Back in the attack during the slog overs with New Zealand looking to add quick runs, Theekshana would once again put a spanner in the works for the Kiwis.

He took the wicket of the well-set Mitchell Santner with the penultimate ball of the 35th over before following it up with the scalp of Nathan Smith with his subsequent delivery as the over came to a close.

Theekshana then returned to the attack for the 37th and final over of the New Zealand innings to take the wicket of Matt Henry with his first ball to complete an impressive hat-trick as the Kiwis went on to set Sri Lanka a target of 256 to chase.

Although Sri Lanka’s chase didn’t go according to plan as they were bundled out for 142, Theekshana’s hat-trick grabbed the spotlight as he took the first international hat-trick of 2025 and became the first Lankan to ever do so on New Zealand soil.

Theekshana’s feat against New Zealand makes him the seventh Sri Lankan to take a hat-trick for the country in ODIs as he joins an elite list that also includes Wanindu Hasaranga, who did so against Zimbabwe in 2017.

Maheesh Theekshana’s hat-trick was the 10th by a Sri Lankan cricketer in ODIs. Chaminda Vaas has two while Lasith Malinga has three.

Sri Lanka also become the first team in ODI cricket to have 10 instances of players taking a hat-trick.

Sri Lankan bowlers with ODI hat tricks

Player Opposition Venue Date
Chaminda Vaas Zimbabwe Colombo (SSC) December 8, 2001
Chaminda Vaas Bangladesh Pietermaritzburg February 14, 2003
Lasith Malinga South Africa Guyana March 28, 2007
Farveez Maharoof India Dambulla June, 22, 2010
Lasith Malinga Kenya Colombo (RPS) March 1, 2011
Lasith Malinga Australia Colombo (RPS) August 22, 2011
Thisara Perera Pakistan Colombo (SSC) June 6, 2012
Wanindu Hasaranga Zimbabwe The Galle July 2, 2017
Dushmantha Madushanka Bangladesh Dhaka January 27, 2018
Maheesh Theekshana New Zealand Hamilton January 8, 2025