Malinga claims historic hat-trick

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP):

Lasith Malinga became the first bowler to take three one-day international hat-tricks, as Sri Lanka registered a four-wicket consolation win against Australia in the fifth one-day international yesterday.

Malinga captured the wickets of tailenders Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings and Xavier Doherty in successive deliveries in the 46th over, to help dismiss Australia for a modest 211 runs. He had best bowling figures of 3-35.

Despite losing three early wickets, Mahela Jayawardene (71) and Chamara Silva (63) held the innings together to complete a morale-boosting win at 213 for six, with three overs to spare, ahead of a three-match Test series.

Australia won the series 3-2.

"No doubt we are disappointed with the finish we had,'' Australia captain Michael Clarke said. "We played really well throughout the series, we would have liked a 4-1 result.''

Hat-tricks

Malinga surpassed retired left-arm seamers Wasim Akram of Pakistan and Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka, who took two hat-tricks in their careers.

"I am very pleased to have taken three hat-tricks which I only knew after the match,'' Malinga said. "The other two bowlers (with two hat-tricks) are already retired, but I am happy that I continue to play cricket.''

Malinga bowled Johnson (1), trapped Hastings (0) lbw and then bowled Doherty (0).

His previous hat-tricks came in a 2007 World Cup match against South Africa in which he took four wickets in successive balls and in this year's World Cup against Kenya.