It’s not easy to make a turnaround when the chips are down. But Lockie Ferguson just showed the path to making a strong comeback with a fiery spell against Sri Lanka that involved a hat-trick to derail the hosts’ middle-order batters in the second T20I at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Being sent to bat first after a slight delay due to a wet outfield, New Zealand faced a tough challenge against the hosts. Nuwan Thusara and Wanindu Hasaranga toppled the Kiwi top order before Mathesha Pathirana’s three-fer curtailed them to 108. Eyeing to seal the series with a win, Sri Lanka suffered a similar start to their counterparts with Mitchel Santnar paving the way. Just when Pathum Nissanka looked to steer the chase from one end, Ferguson lifted New Zealand’s spirits with a gutsy spell.
The last ball of the powerplay wad bowled full at Kusal Perera who incurred a faint edge to Mitchell Hay at first slip, who dived sideways to complete the catch. The TV umpire confirmed the involvement of the bat, resulting in the second Sri Lankan wicket of the innings. Ferguson continued with the spell from the particular end and outwitted in-form Kamindu Mendis on the first ball of the eighth over with a fuller, angling in delivery. The southpaw shuffled across the line for a flick and ended up playing outside the line. The immediate next ball, the pacer dished a fuller one down the leg stump line that Charith Asalanka tried to whip and incurred an inside edge en route to the wicketkeeper Mitch Hay. With Asalanka getting out for a golden duck, the speedster ended up becoming the fifth New Zealand platey to earn a T20I hat-trick.
Lockie Bhai!!
