PAK vs NZ 1st T20I: Matt Henry becomes fourth New Zealand bowler to pick up a T20I hat-trick

Lahore, April 14: New Zealand pacer Matt Henry on Friday (April 14) picked up a sensational hat-trick in the first T20I against Pakistan in Lahore and became the fourth bowler to achieve this feat for the BlackCaps.

Henry's hat trick, which was spread across two overs, dismissed Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi to claim the unique feat. It was his impressive bowling which helped NZ restrict Pakistan to 182 in 19.5 overs.

Henry derailed Pakistan's innings in the 13th over with the wickets of Shadab Khan (5) and Iftikhar Ahmed (0) off back-to-back deliveries. Shadab was caught out by Latham off the penultimate ball of the over and Itikhar fell the next ball, edging again to the wicketkeeper.

Henry returned in the 19th over to dismiss Shaheen Afridi (1) off the first ball, caught brilliantly near the ropes by Daryl Mitchell off the first ball in the over.

The right-arm fast bowler - who opened the bowling for NZ - finished with 3/32, his career-best figures in T20Is and also became just the fourth New Zealand bowler to take a hat-trick in men's T20Is.

Jacob Oram was the first New Zealand cricketer to bag a hat-trick in the shortest format of the game. The fast-bowling all-rounder took a hat-trick in 2009 against Sri Lanka. The all-rounder then became just the second player to record a hat-trick in men's T20Is.

Later, star pacer Tim Southee joined Oram on the list next year against Pakistan. For 12 years since then, there were no New Zealand bowlers on the list until Michael Bracewell took a hat-trick against Ireland last year.

Meanwhile, riding upon the 47 off 34 from Fakhar Zaman and 28-ball 47 from Saim Ayub, Pakistan managed to post a decent total on the board after their captain Babar Azam - playing his 100th T20I - elected to bat first.