Colombo, Aug 24: Australian all-rounder James Faulkner took his maiden hat-trick against Sri Lanka in the 2nd ODI at Colombo on Wednesday (Aug 24) to help visitors restrict the hosts on 288.
The left-arm pacer claimed Kusal Parera's (54) wicket via LBW on the last delivery of his 8th over. In his 9th over, the death over specialist removed Angelo Mathews (57), caught at long-off, and then bowled Thisara Parera (12) on his hat-trick ball.
Faulkner's hat-trick had all three different ways of dismissals. His death over bowling helped Australia restrict Sri Lanka to 288 in 48.5 overs.
He is the second Australia bowler to take one against SL after Daniel Christian and sixth Australian overall. What's unique about the hat-trick is the fact that no batsmen among three were dismissed for '0', which is a generally the case during hat-trick.
It was the 41st ocassion when a hat-trick was claimed in an One Day International game.
Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 27 runs (3 wickets by Faulkner, 2 by Mitchell Starc). At one time the hosts seemed comfortably heading towards 300 figure mark, but the death over bowling from the Starc and Faulkner restricted the hosts on 288.
Australia needed 289 runs to win the match but Sri Lankan bowlers restricted them at 206 in 47.2 overs and lost the match by 82 runs. The series is now levelled 1-1.
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