Malinga breaks Akram’s record as Sri Lanka claim consolation win

Former Pakistan pacer previously held the record for most hat-tricks across formats

PHOTO: AFP/PSL

Veteran pacer Lasith Malinga on Friday went past Pakistan’s former captain Wasim Akram to become the only bowler to claim five international hat-tricks, during the third Twenty20 International (T20I) between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Kandy.

Akram previously held the record for most hat-tricks (4) across formats.

Malinga wreaked havoc after becoming the first bowler in T20Is to claim 100 wickets as he struck four times in four balls to leave the Kiwis reeling at 15 for 4.

Malinga returned career-best figures of 5-6 in his four overs to give Sri Lanka a consolation win by 37 runs in Kandy.

The Black Caps won the series 2-1.

Malinga, who surpassed Pakistan spinner Shahid Afridi's tally of 97 scalps to become the leading T20 wicket-taker on Sunday, bowled Colin Munro for 12 to claim a century of wickets in his 76th match.

The 36-year-old speedster went on to complete a hat-trick and took four wickets in four balls.

Malinga, who once achieved a similar feat in the 2007 50-over World Cup in South Africa, also took the wicket of Tim Seifert, for eight, to register his second five-wicket haul and take his T20 tally to 104.

The right-arm pacer also became only bowler to take four wickets in four balls, twice in international cricket.

Malinga's efforts saw New Zealand being dismissed for 88, while chasing 126, in 16 overs.

The veteran, who retired from Test cricket in 2011 and played his farewell one-day international (ODI) in July, has competition from Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan who has 88 wickets.