• Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana scripted history on Wednesday, January 8 as he became the first spinner to take an ODI hat-trick against New Zealand and the fifth bowler overall as the visitors restricted the Black Caps to 255/9 after choosing to field first in a rain-marred second game of the three-match series in Hamilton. 

Theekshana dismissed New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner on the penultimate delivery of the 35th over of the New Zealand innings before dismissing Nathan Smith getting him to hit to the cover fielder to get two in two. Theekshana returned for the final over of the innings before sending back Matt Henry to complete his hat-trick.

Theekshana became the seventh Sri Lankan bowler to take an ODI hat-trick. The list is headlined by Lasith Malinga with three hat-tricks, followed by left-arm pacer Chaminda Vaas with two. Theekshana, however, is only the second spinner to take an ODI hat-trick after Wanindu Hasaranga in 2017. Theekshana joined the likes of Bruce Reid, Chetan Sharma, Waqar Younis and Rubel Hossain among bowlers to take an ODI hat-trick against the Kiwis.

Bowlers to take an ODI hat-trick against New Zealand 

• Bruce Reid (AUS) - Sydney, 1986
• Chetan Sharma (IND) - Nagpur, 1987
• Waqar Younis (PAK) - East London, 1994
• Rubel Hossain (BAN) - Dhaka, 2013
• Maheesh Theekshana (SL) - Hamilton, 2025

Sri Lankan bowlers to take an ODI hat-trick 

• Chaminda Vaas (2) - vs ZIM - Colombo SSC 2001; vs BAN - Pietermaritzburg 2003
• Lasith Malinga (3) - vs SA in 2007, vs Kenya in 2011, vs Australia in 2011
• Farvez Maharoof (vs IND) - Dambulla, 2010
• Thisara Perera (vs PAK) - Colombo RPS, 2012
• Wanindu Hasaranga (vs ZIM) - Galle, 2017
• Shehan Madushanka (vs BAN) - Dhaka, 2018
• Maheesh Theekshana (vs NZ) - Hamilton, 2025