The United Arab Emirates’s Karthik Meiyappan took the first hat-trick of the Twenty20 World Cup against Sri Lanka in Australia on Tuesday.

Asian champions Sri Lanka were motoring at 117-2 in the 15th over when the leg-break bowler struck, removing Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka in successive balls, reports AFP.

The 22-year-old became just the fifth bowler to snare a hat-trick at a T20 World Cup and the first for his country. Meiyappan ended with figures of 3-19 off his four overs.

However, Sri Lanka won the match and keep hope to play in the Super 12 round.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul