Colombo, Feb 28 (IANS) Express-fast Lasith Malinga became the second player in as many days to claim a hat-trick 2011 World Cup as Sri Lanka thrashed Kenya by nine wickets in a Group A match here Tuesday.
Malinga (6-38) helped Sri Lanka bowl out Kenya for 142 before the hosts cruised to the target in 18.4 overs. The paceman’s hat-trick came only a day after Kemar Roach’s against the Netherlands Monday. It was the seventh hat-trick of World Cup and Malinga’s second, the only player to achieve the feat in the history of the tournament.
His first hat-trick came in 2007 against South African where he took four wickets in four balls.
After Malinga’s exploits with the ball, Upul Tharanga (67) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (44) smashed 72 for the opening stand. Dilshan, who hit eight fours, was dismissed by Eljah Otieno. Tharanga, who knocked 12 fours, and Kumar Sangakkara (27) took Sri Lanka home.
It was Sri Lanka’s second victory in the tournament. They beat Canada in their opening match but were outsmarted by Pakistan in the second match.
Malinga did not play against Pakistan and Tuesday he single-handedly ran through the Kenyan line-up.
Like Roach, Malinga mopped up the tail off three successive deliveries to end up with a six-wicket haul.
Kenya, who lost their first two matches against New Zealand and Pakistan, were again not up to the mark against the top cricketing side.
They lost two early wickets before Collins Obuya (52) and David Obuya (51) stitched 94 runs, although it came at a snail’s pace. Once the partnership was broken with Malinga rattling the stumps of Collins, and Muttiah Muralitharan dismissing David, the Kenyan batting fell apart.
Malinga showed why he is such a dangerous bowler in the death-overs as he crashed through the stumps of Peter Ongonda, Shem Ngoche and Elijah Otieno with all three batsmen dismissed for ducks.
