SL vs NZ T20: Hat-trick hero Malinga blows away New Zealand

The veteran pacer took five wickets, including four wickets in four balls

malinga-hat-trick-ap Lasith Malinga celebrates after taking the hat-trick wicket of New Zealand's Colin de Grandhomme during the third T20I in Pallekele | AP

3-1-5-5. Three overs-one maiden over-five runs-five wickets. Read Lasith Malinga's figures at the end of his three-over burst against New Zealand in the third T20I at Pallekelle on Friday.

Chasing 126 to win, the visitors were bowled out for 88 in 16 overs. New Zealand had already won the series, clinching the first two T20Is by five and four wickets respectively.

The fate of the Kiwis was sealed in the third over of the match bowled by captain Malinga, who took four wickets in four balls, including the hat-trick. The spell brought back memories of the 2007 World Cup, where he took four wickets in four balls against South Africa.

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Colin Munro (12) was the first to go, having been yorked for 12. It was Malinga's 100th wicket in T20Is, surpassing Pakistan spinner Shahid Afridi's tally of 97 scalps to become the leading T20 wicket-taker, in his 76th match.

Next was Hamish Rutherford, who was initially given not out, but Malinga got the LBW decision overturned through DRS. Colin de Grandhomme had no answer to the hat-trick ball, which crashed into his off and middle stumps. Malinga then put the finishing touch trapping experienced Ross Taylor plumb in front to spark off wild celebrations in the stadium.

The veteran was not done yet, as he returned in his next over to take his fifth wicket, getting Seifert to nick one behind for eight runs to leave the Kiwis gasping on 25/5. He ended the match with astonishing figures of 5/6 in his four overs.

Any hopes of a Kiwi comeback soon evaporated, thanks to another three-wicket burst in the ninth over bowled by Akila Dananjaya. Mitchell Santner (16) and pacer Tim Southee, who provided some late fireworks with a 23-ball 28, were the only other batsmen, apart from Munro, to get into double figures.

Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener Danushka Gunathilaka was the top-scorer with 30, as spinners Todd Astle and Santner took three wickets apiece to restrict the hosts to 125/8.

But, in the end, it proved to be more than enough for the Lankans.