Cricket

These Sri Lankan bowlers own hat-tricks versus Zimbabwe in ODIs

By SSI Bureau · August 29, 2025 · 0 Reads

Sri Lanka cricket team pacer Dilshan Madushanka made history on August 29, Friday, by becoming the eighth player from his nation to take an ODI hat-trick. The pacer achieved the same in the final over of Zimbabwe‘s run-chase in a nail-biting match at the Harare Sports Club.

Sri Lanka scored 298/6 in 50 overs, riding on fifties from the blades of Pathum Nissanka, Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis.

Chasing a 299-run target, Zimbabwe were 289/5 after 49 overs. They had Sikandar Raza and Tony Munyonga at the crease. The pair had added a century-plus stand for the 6th wicket. With 10 runs needed off 6 balls, Madushanka was tasked with the final over and he delivered.

He dismissed Raza, who was on 92 with a full toss that took the middle stump. Raza wanted to go leg side and perished with the ball crashing his stumps. A low full toss saw Brad Evans get caught off the very next ball. Richard Ngarava walked in and played a nothing shot to be castled. With this, Zimbabwe surrendered the clash and were 289/8 in no time. Zimbabwe managed 291/8 to lose by 7 runs.

Madushanka ended up with impressive figures of 4/62 in his quota of 10 overs.

Madushanka became the 8th Sri Lankan with a hat-trick in ODIs. Meanwhile, this also became the 11th instance of a Sri Lankan bowler claiming a hat-trick in ODIs.

Notably, Madushanka is now the 3rd bowler to pick a hat-trick versus Zimbabwe in ODIs. He joined pacer Chaminda Vaas and spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

Vaas took his hat-trick in figures worth 8/19 in 2001 during a triangular series. Meanwhile, Hasaranga managed his hat-trick during Zimbabwe’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2017 in the 2nd ODI in Galle.