Ferguson and Phillips star as New Zealand pip Sri Lanka

Staff WritersAP
Camera IconNew Zealand's Lockie Ferguson celebrates his T20 hat-trick after dismissing Charith Asalanka. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP

Lockie Ferguson has snaffled a hat-trick as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by five runs in a sensational finale to their Twenty20 international, leaving the two-game series drawn 1-1.

New Zealand were bowled out for 108 in 19.3 overs in Sunday's concluding match, yet managed to dismiss Sri Lanka for just 103 in 19.5 overs.

As well as paceman Ferguson's heroics, Glenn Phillips grabbed three wickets in four balls, and wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay pouched five catches and a stumping in a stunning win for the Black Caps.

Phillips got the key wicket from the second ball of the last over when opening batter Pathum Nissanka holed out at long on for 52.

When Phillips got Matheesha Pathirana stumped off the next ball, he was on a hat-trick himself.

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Nuwan Thusara avoided the fate of being a hat-trick ball victim off the fourth ball of the over, and took a single.

But Maheesh Theekshana, one of only three Sri Lankans to achieve double figures by reaching 14, sliced a catch to Hay to end the match.

Ferguson had earlier turned the game around with 3-7 off his two overs, before he had to leave due to a strained calf.

Ferguson got Kusal Perera caught behind off the last ball of his first over. Kamindu Mendis was trapped off the first ball of his next over, then captain Charith Asalanka gave a thick edge down the leg side that was brilliantly caught by a diving Hay.

Ferguson, who missed Saturday's four-wicket defeat, became the fifth New Zealand bowler after Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Michael Bracewell and Matt Henry to achieve a T20 hat-trick.

Hay became the first wicketkeeper in T20 history to feature in six dismissals.

When New Zealand batted, Wanindu Hasaranga took 4-17 after he was hobbled by a hamstring injury in his first over.

Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara bowled Tim Robinson off a yorker with the first ball of the match.

Hasaranga spun the Kiwis into deeper trouble. Phillips was clean bowled when he attempted to reverse sweep a googly, and Michael Bracewell and Hay were also bowled.

New Zealand slumped to 6-52 in the 11th over when Hasaranga had Will Young, the top scorer on 30, stumped.

Josh Clarkson (24) and captain Mitchell Santner (19) lifted the Black Caps' total.

But fast bowler Pathirana limited the run-rate in the death overs by taking 3-11 with deceiving slower deliveries.

The teams begin a three-match one-day international series in Dambulla on Wednesday.

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