Nuwan Thushara’s Hat-Trick Seals Victory for Sri Lanka, Draws Comparison with Lasith Malinga

Sri Lankan fast bowler, Nuwan Thushara, delivered a spectacular performance on Saturday, 9 March, taking a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul in Sylhet. His performance was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s victory over Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series.

Thushara, 29, dismissed Bangladesh’s skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, and Mahmudullah in consecutive deliveries during the fourth over of Bangladesh’s run-chase, completing his hat-trick. He later added two more wickets to his tally, including Soumya Sarkar during the final over of the Powerplay.

Thushara’s performance was the 57th hat-trick in men’s T20I history and the sixth by a Sri Lankan. Notably, Lasith Malinga, who shares a similar bowling action with Thushara, has taken two of those six hat-tricks.

“I’m very happy for him,” said teammate Kusal Mendis, “With the World Cup around the corner, it’s great to have many of our bowlers in such form. His performance reminded me of how Mali aiya [Lasith Malinga] bowled.”

Opposition skipper Shanto echoed Mendis’ sentiments, “I agree that the whole match pivoted in that one over,” he said, “He bowled a very good over. We were held back by that over. I felt that if we could have handled that over better, we could have had a different result.”

Sri Lanka is now set to play three ODIs against Bangladesh, starting 13 March, followed by two Tests.