Watch: Mumbai Indians’ new recruit Nuwan Thushara becomes 5th Sri Lankan to take T20I hat-trick

Sri Lanka speedster Nuwan Thushara scripted the history on Saturday (9th March). The right-arm fast bowler became just the fifth from the island nation to take the hat-trick in the history of the T20 Internationals.

Nuwan Thushara achieved the feat in the ongoing third game of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The match between the two teams is taking place at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet and so far has been all about the visitors.

After Sri Lanka posted a total of 174 runs, Nuwan Thushara made sure that he put Bangladesh under immense pressure and shone with the ball. He did the carnage with the ball early on in the powerplay and made a mockery of the opposition’s batting lineup, picking wickets in a flash.

Nuwan Thushara brought his best in the 4th over. He removed Najmul Hossain Shanto with a screamer on the second ball. The fast bowler bowled a back of a length ball on off and the ball moved in a bit and kept low. The batter was caught in an awkward position and was beaten for pace as the ball crashed into the stumps.

On the very next ball, Nuwan Thushara produced another jaffa and rattled the stumps of Towhid Hridoy. The pacer bowled a good length ball at a good pace in line of the stumps. The ball swung away to go past the defense of the batter and hit the off-stump.

If this was not enough, Nuwan Thushara then on the 4th ball of the over trapped Mahmudullah in lbw. He bowled a fiery ball that swung away from the middle to square the batter up. Although the batter opted for DRS but the call went in favour of the pacer and he picked a hat-trick. Watch Here:

https://twitter.com/Neaz__Abdullah/status/1766426571060167043?t=WxTHcvk0kzYpCh4nKKVJtA&s=19

Nuwan Thushara’s over changed the game for Sri Lanka as not only did he pick a hat-trick, but he also bowled a maiden over and jolted the opposition. He became just the 5th bowler from the island to pick three wickets in three balls in the T20Is.

Nuwan Thushara removes Soumya Sarkar to pick his 4th wicket

Nuwan Thushara has been all over the Bangladesh team in the ongoing T20I. After taking the hat trick, he made sure that he picked another wicket in the next over that he bowled and grabbed his 4th wicket for the day to put the opposition on the back foot.

Nuwan Thushara bowled a 138.2kph yorker-length ball attacking the stump. The ball swung in and Soumya Sarkar missed the ball and it went on to hit the stumps. The batter managed just 11 runs off 10 balls and with his wicket, Bangladesh was left tottering at 24/5.

HAT-TRICKS FOR SRI LANKA IN MEN’s T20Is

• Thisara Perera vs India in Ranchi, 2016

• Lasith Malinga vs Bangladesh in Colombo, 2017

• Lasith Malinga vs New Zealand in Pallekele, 2019

• Akila Dananjaya vs West Indies in Antigua, 2021

• Wanindu Hasaranga vs South Africa in Sharjah, 2021

• Nuwan Thusahara vs Bangladesh in Sylhet, 2024