New Zealand’s Matt Henry Derails Pakistan Innings With Hat-Trick In 1st T20I. Watch | Cricket News

Matt Henry picked up a hat-trick spread across two overs in the first T20I against Pakistan in Lahore to join an elite group of New Zealand bowlers. Henry had derailed Pakistan’s innings in the 13th over with the wickets of Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed 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 off the first ball, caught brilliantly near the ropes by Daryl Mitchell off the first ball in the over.

Shadab Khan
Iftikhar Ahmed
Shaheen Afridi

A hat-trick for Matt Henry in the first T20I at the GSL. #PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/h6bZP6O1hM

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 14, 2023

Henry finished with 3/32, his career-best figure 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 to do so when he 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. Tim Southee joined him 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.

Henry now joins the three players on the list after his spell in Lahore.

Pakistan were bowled out for 182 batting first with Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub making 47 apiece.

However, Henry’s efforts went in vain as New Zealand, chasing a target of 183, were bowled out for a paltry total of 94.

Haris Rauf took career best figures of 4-18 as Pakistan registered an 88-run win.