ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 04: Josh Little of Ireland celebrates with team mates after getting a hat trick with the wicket of Mitchell Santner of New Zealand LBW for a duck during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup match between New Zealand and Ireland at Adelaide Oval on November 04, 2022 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

Irish bowler Josh Little has claimed a hat-trick in his nation's final appearance at the T20 World Cup, claiming the scalps of New Zealand's middle-order.

Bowling the 19th over of Friday's opening Group 1 clash at Adelaide Oval, Little began the over by conceding a single, but fortunes would quickly turn in his favour.

The right-handed fast-medium bowler would take his fort wicket of the match in the form of Kiwis skipper Kane Williamson, who was dismissed for 61 runs from 35 balls after being caught out at deep backwards square leg.

His dismissal would bring all-rounder Jimmy Neesham to the crease with New Zealand at 4/174 with 10 balls remaining in their innings.

Little would trap Neesham with a straight delivery that bypassed the New Zealander's bat and struck his pad. Despite the easy decision for the umpire, Neesham opted to review the wicket, which was eventually upheld.

A similar delivery to No.7 batter Mitch Santner would see the Kiwis spinner dismissed for a golden duck, with Santner following the attempts of Neesham and signalling for a review.

It was a similar case for Santner, with ball-tracking showing the delivery hitting the stumps with some comfort and confirming a hat-trick for Little.

Little's hat-trick is the second for a male Irishman in international cricket after Curtis Campher collected four wickets in successive deliveries against the Netherlands at last year's T20 World Cup.

New Zealand ended their innings at 6/185.