5 New Zealand Bowlers With Hattricks In T20Is

New Zealand Bowlers With Hattricks In T20Is [Source: @BLACKCAPS/X.com]New Zealand Bowlers With Hattricks In T20Is [Source: @BLACKCAPS/X.com]

New Zealand cricket team's T20I bowling line-up has been graced by some remarkable bowlers who have consistently delivered game-changing performances. As a top team with consistent success in all formats, the Kiwis adapted to the growing trend of fast paced 20-20 in quick time as well. 

Among many notable feats, achieving a hattrick, widely considered a rare and thrilling accomplishment, stands out the most. Lockie Ferguson recently joined the elite club of New Zealand bowlers with a T20I hattrick, becoming the fifth bowler from his country to do so. As we discuss Ferguson's heroic effort, let's explore other Kiwis bowlers who achieved a similar feat in their T20I career.

5. Jacob Oram

5. Jacob Oram [Source: @ICC/X.com]5. Jacob Oram [Source: @ICC/X.com]

Jacob Oram, a renowned all-rounder, was the first New Zealand bowler to claim a hattrick in T20 internationals. He achieved the remarkable feat when the T20 format was relatively new in 2009. Playing against Sri Lanka at Colombo, Jacob sent back Angelo Matthews in a caught and bowled dismissal on the final delivery of the 17th over. He returned to bowl the final over and dismissed Malinga Bandara and Nuwan Kulasekara in the first two balls to complete his hattrick. His heroic effort not only set a new precedent for the next generation but also helped New Zealand register a narrow 3-run victory. 

4. Tim Southee

4. Tim Southee [Source: @ICC/X.com]4. Tim Southee [Source: @ICC/X.com]

Tim Southee is the only New Zealand bowler to take 2 hattricks in T20I cricket history. He first achieved the feat in 2010 against Pakistan. In the 8th over of the first innings, Southee dismissed Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, and Umar Akmal to complete his hattrick, and he also ended up getting a fifer. 

Then, a decade later, in 2022, Tim Southee recreated the astonishing milestone. In the 2nd T20I at Mount Maunganui against India, Southee bowled the final over and stunned Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda and Washington Sundar to claim his second career hattrick in the T20I format. He went wicketless for the entire game but the last over changed the tide as India's tail were left clueless to the veteran's brilliance.

3. Michael Bracewell

3. Michael Bracewell [Source: @ICC/X.com]3. Michael Bracewell [Source: @ICC/X.com]

Michael Bracewell joined the ionic list in 2022. In a T20I against Ireland, New Zealand dominated an inexperienced Irish batting line-up to bowl them out for 91 runs.  Michael Bracewell delivered the final punch by dismissing Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy and Craig Young to claim his maiden hattrick. Fate also played in Bracewell's favour as the hattrick over was his first moment with the ball in the first innings. He bowled just 5 balls in the whole game and grabbed wickets in 3 of those. This sensational bowling figures underlines part time bowler's underrated impact in a T20 game. 

2. Matt Henry

2. Matt Henry [Source: @TheRealPCB/X.com]2. Matt Henry [Source: @TheRealPCB/X.com]

In a T20I game against Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in 2023, New Zealand pacer Matt Henry grabbed a hattrick. His spell began with Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed's back to back wickets in the 13th over. He returned to bowl the 19th over, and on the very first delivery, a terrific team effort catch from Mitchell and Bowes awarded Henry Shaheen Afridi's wicket and a historic hattrick. He became the only 4th Kiwi bowler to register a hattrick in T20 internationals and joined the ranks of Tim Southee, Jacob Oram, and Bracewell.

1. Lockie Ferguson

1. Lockie Ferguson [Source: @ICC]1. Lockie Ferguson [Source: @ICC]

The latest addition to this special list is pace battery Lockie Ferguson. In a low scoring thriller against Sri Lanka, Ferguson removed Kusal Perera on the final delivery of the powerplay. He was kept in the attack for the 8th over, and Lockie delivered a hard blow to Lankans with two back-to-back wickets of Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka, thus bagging a hattrick. Ferguson became the only fifth bowler in New Zealand's T20I history to bag a hattrick, and his crucial spell helped New Zealand defend a low total of 108 runs in Dambulla.