Michael Bracewell becomes the first player to bag a hat-trick in the first-ever over of his T20I career

Michael Bracewell, on Wednesday, achieved an unprecedented feat when he came to bowl the very first over of his T20I career since his debut for New Zealand. The 31-year-old off-spinner, continuing his dream run on the ongoing tour of Ireland, bagged a maiden hat-trick in T20Is. 

Bracewell, after playing some valuable knocks with the bat in the 50-Over format and guiding the Black Caps to a thrilling victory over the hosts, took the challenge with the ball in the second T20I and ended up reaping the sweet rewards in his first ever over.

Bracewell, who made his debut in the first T20I, cleaned up Mark Adair (27), Barry McCarthy (11) and Craig Young (0) on the third, fourth, and fifth delivery of his first over to finish off a hat-trick and return with startling bowling figures of 3/5 in just 0.5 overs. 

Following this feat, the Kiwi all-rounder became only the third New Zealand men's player to record a T20I hat-trick after former all-rounder Jacob Oram and star pacer Tim Southee. Also, Bracewell became the first player in the history of cricket to take a hat-trick in his first over of T20I career. 

Watch: Michael Bracewell's hat-trick against Ireland

Following Bracewell's heroics alongside Ish Sodhi's three-wicket haul, New Zealand swatted aside Ireland by 88 runs in the 2nd T20I to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. 

The two-match-old Dane Cleaver played a vital knock of unbeaten 78 runs from 55 balls, including five fours and four sixes to propel the touring side to a stiff total of 179 runs. 

Ireland, in reply once again toppled in the run-chase and endured a terrible batting collapse to skittle out for just 91 runs in 13.5 overs. The third and final match of the three-match series will be played on Friday at the same venue.