New Zealand's hat-trick hero Lockie Ferguson said defending a total of 108 to win the second Twenty20 match and draw the series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Sunday was "massive" for an inexperienced Black Caps team.
Trailing 1-0 in the series after a four-wicket loss at the same ground on Saturday, New Zealand were only able to put a modest score on the board as Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took 4-17 despite being clearly hampered by injury.
Ferguson struck to dismiss Kusal Perera at the end of Sri Lanka's sixth over, however, and sent back Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka with the first two balls of the eighth to become the sixth New Zealander to take a T20 hat-trick.
"Obviously it was split over two overs, so there probably wasn't the same excitement you would normally get around a hat- trick," paceman Ferguson said.
"I probably bowled the worst ball for the actual hat-trick ball, a little strangle down leg side, but I'll definitely take it."
A calf injury brought Ferguson's evening to an end soon afterwards but all-rounder Glenn Phillips chipped in with three wickets from four balls in the final over, including that of opener Pathum Nissanka for 52, to dismiss Sri Lanka for 103.