Blackcaps captain Tim Southee praised "an amazing spell of bowling" from veteran Lasith Malinga for inspiring Sri Lanka to a 37-run T20 win over New Zealand.
Sri Lanka captain Malinga took four wickets in four balls to help dismiss the Blackcaps for just 88 runs in a dead-rubber third match at Pallekele, after the hosts scored125/8 batting first.
Surprisingly, Malinga previously achieved the feat in 50-over cricket at the 2007 World Cup against South Africa, and the hat-trick was his fifth in international cricket, the most by any bowler.
During the match, he also became the first man to take 100 T20 wickets, as he finished with figures of 5/6.
"It's an amazing spell of bowling," Southee said after the match. "He's been a world-class bowler for a long time and he's shown his class tonight.
"When his team needed him to stand up, he did. He bowled exceptionally well and… to pick up four [wickets] in an over really breaks the back of a run chase."
Malinga bowled Colin Munro for 12 in his second over, before snaffling Hamish Rutherford, Colin de Grandhomme and Ross Taylor for golden ducks, which left the Blackcaps reeling at 15/4.
"It was a disappointing way to end what's been a pretty good tour," Southee said.
"We realised pretty early on, with the ball, that it wasn't going to be a big-scoring wicket, compared to the two surfaces we played on in the first two games.
"It was probably one big partnership away from breaking the back of that chase, but we were outdone by a piece of brilliance from Malinga."
Southee was named Player of the Series.
The Blackcaps now have some time off, before their next series against England, which starts on November 1 at Hagley Oval.
England will play five T20s and two tests, while in New Zealand.
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