For any sort of a bowler, it’s a hat-trick which proves to be a satisfaction, and there’s no joy behind that contentment. Ask Chetan Sharma, Saqlain Mushtaq, Brett Lee and Lasith Malinga, to name a few about it; they will boast regarding their incredible feat between seasons. And it doesn’t mean they didn’t have a rough time during their days, they certainly had.
Over the course of the 12 World Cup editions: the intriguing fans have had witnessed 11 hat-tricks which include two from the ICC World Cup 2019.
Well, Team India fast bowler Mohammad Shami produced a magical spell before rattling Afghanistan tail, so did Trent Boult at the historic Lord’s against Australia. There are assets to the teams with some substance to relish in the cricketing history when we look at fascinating record books.
Since 1987, the World Cup has witnessed hat-tricks of sheer pace, of classic off-spin, of toe-crushing yorkers, of thunderbolts, of guile, of wise, of well-disguised deliveries, and intriguing smartness, of setup and obviously of an intrinsic part-timer – Jean-Paul Duminy. It’s has been a roller-coaster rider for the distinct bowling group in the ODI showpiece.
As a fan, cricketer, you would be keen to revisit those heartwarming memories. Well, we’ve covered you for it since 1987.
Let’s discuss all eleven hat-tricks taken at the ICC World Cups:
Chetan Sharma (India) vs New Zealand in 1987:
All-rounder Chetan Sharma, who hadn’t that much speed to boast about. but he deceived batters with his accuracy. Nevertheless, he kept on troubling batters with his cunning accuracy and guile.
Also, he is the first-ever cricketer to claim the hat-trick at the World Cup event.
In 1987, Chetan had bewitched the Nagpur crowd by claiming a sensational hat-trick when India faced the Black Caps in their last group fixture.
Talking about Sharma’s victims, the paceman first managed to castle Ken Rutherford. Besides, he went on to deceive Ian Smith before relishing with the wicket of Ewen Chatfield. Literally, Chetan summed up the hat-trick by disturbing the furniture.
Saqlain Mushtaq vs Zimbabwe in 1999:
It was all about to wait, wait and more wait for the World Cup hat-trick. To be precise, it took 12-odd years for a bowler to clinch a hat-trick. In 1999, Pakistan’s legendary off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq had brought an end to the hat-trick drought against Zimbabwe.
Batting first, Pakistan posted 271 at The Oval. Well, the second hat-trick came after three editions of the World Cup. The incident unfolded when Zimbabwe were in dire straits at 123 for seven before Saqlain rolled over his arm–to claim his first-ever World Cup hat-trick.
Saqlain got rid of Henry Olonga when Moin Khan completed one of the easiest stumpings. He then went on to undone Adan Huckle to closer a step for his glory. And by the time Pommie Mbangwa reached the crease, Saqlain thought about his hat-trick a lot before trapping him in front of the wickets to complete his sensational hat-trick.
Chaminda Vaas vs Bangladesh in 2003:
Sri Lankan superstar Chaminda Vaas’ World Cup is some substance to look at. His hat-trick is very special as it came off the first three balls of the Lions’ game against Bangladesh during 2003 World Cup.
The classic bowler in Vaas has put a spectacular effort to make it happen against Bangladesh in Pietermaritzburg. Thus, he also scripted the history by becoming a first bowler to achieve a milestone by claiming a hat-trick in the first three balls of an ODI during the seventh edition of the World Cup.
On his very first delivery, Vaas surprised Hannan Sarkar with his in-swinger. On his next delivery, Vaas didn’t make a mess of a return catch on his follow-through by sending back ever-reliable Mohammad Ashraful.
Following a simple catch from Mahela Jayawardene in the slip cordon, Vaas erupted in joy by claiming a prized scalp of Ehsanul Haque.
Brett Lee vs Kenya in 2003:
In 2003, the speedster Brett Lee has ripped apart Kenya’s top-order to boss the game. Interestingly, Lee claimed his hat-trick just 11 days after Vaas brought Bangladesh batsmen to its knees.
In the fourth over of Kenya’s innings in Durban, Lee breathed fire while eking one wicket after another. All of a sudden, Kenya were reeling at three for three in the 2003 World Cup fixture.
The right-arm speedster dismissed Kenya’s opener Kennedy Otieno, who had a stroke of bad luck after the ball rolled onto his stumps which came off his elbow.
Brutal with the ball, Lee further found the edge of Brijal Patel’s bat which saw Ricky Ponting claiming a regulation catch at second slip to help Lee to make it two in two.
Lee put his stamp on a hat-trick while castling David Obuya with a searing yorker recording as 96.6 mph.
Lasith Malinga vs South Africa in 2007:
The Sri Lankan premium bowler of the contemporary cricket Lasith Malinga holds a record of being an only bowler to claim two hat-tricks at the World Cup event.
In 2007 World Cup, Malinga claimed his first hat-trick when he was the most difficult bowler to be picked by any of the batsmen.
Interestingly, Malinga went on to bag four wickets in a row at the fag end of the Proteas’ innings.
Proteas required four to win when they had five wickets in hand before Malinga sprung a surprise. The ace bowler went on to deceive veteran Shaun Pollock with a well-disguised slower ball. On the very next ball, he outfoxed Andrew Hall, who handed an easy catch at the cover region.
However, his first two wickets came off his final two deliveries of his one of his overs. Well, as the drama was about to unfold, Malinga got rid of Jacques Kallis, who scored 86.
Interestingly, Malinga went a step ahead by castling Makhaya Ntini before the Proteas crossed over the line in a thriller.
Kemar Roach vs Netherlands in 2011:
In 2011 World Cup which India hosted, the Windies pace gun Kemar Roach became first to clinch hat-trick at the World Cup.
Roach breathed down the neck of the Netherlands’ batters with his remarkable bowling effort. In a bid to chase improbable 331, Netherlands were reeling at 115 for seven when Roach dismantled the remaining three batters.
After trapping Pieter Seelaar in front of the wickets for a run, Roach on his second delivery trapped Bernard Loots in front to give himself a chance to claim a hat-trick. The quality bowler then castled Berend Westdijk before celebrating his hat-trick in West Indian way.
Lasith Malinga vs Kenya in 2011:
In the space of 24 hours, following Roach’s hat-trick, Lasith Malinga set the stage on fire with his sheer pace. Malinga’s exploits are known to every as he also holds a record to bag two hat-tricks in the World Cup.
Interestingly, he clinched his hat-trick in two separate overs which saw him bagging the first wicket while bagging his seventh over of the innings.
He brought up his first wicket in the form of lbw when he removed Tanmay Mishra. In his next over, Malinga deceived Peter Ongondo by cleaning him up. Before erupting in joy, Malinga bowled Shem Ngoche to create history in the ODI showpiece.
Steven Finn vs Australia in 2015:
Lanky English paceman Steven Finn has sealed a fantastic hat-trick in the final over of Australian innings. The bowler with big strides had to toil hard before becoming first Englishman to achieve this feat.
When three deliveries were left of the 50th over, Australia were cruising at 342 for six in 49.3 overs, Finn produced three outstanding deliveries to claim the solitary hat-trick of his cricket career.
Finn got the first wicket in the form of wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin when Stuart Broad managed a good catch while fielding in the deep. Following a brief pause, Finn celebrated dangerman Glenn Maxwell’s wicket after Joe Root claimed an excellent catch at the long-off region.
And with the wicket off Mitchell Johnson Finn was elated after James Anderson pouched a regulation catch at mid-off region to seal the hat-trick.
JP Duminy vs Sri Lanka in 2015:
Jean-Paul Duminy has been an asset for the Proteas in the international fold. He had blown away Sri Lanka when they were relatively in a better stage. Duminy’s hat-trick came in the quarterfinals at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
When the Lions were 114 for four, Duminy opened the floodgates by getting rid of Angelo Mathews who handed a simple catch to mid-wicket fielder. Interestingly, like Malinga, his hat-trick accounted for him for two separate overs. Following a wicket on his final delivery of eighth over, Malinga returned to get
Nuwan Kulasekara caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. Soon after two-in-two, the Proteas skipper set an attacking field surrounding the bat which eventually saw Duminy succeeding in his plan to get Tharindu Kaushal lbw. With this effort, he became first Proteas to achieve such a feat.
Mohammed Shami vs Afghanistan at Southampton in 2019:
Team India pacer Mohammed Shami has become second overall Indian bowler at the World Cup who has bagged a hat-trick. On January 23, paceman Shami has created history by pulling off the first hat-trick of the twelfth edition of the World Cup.
Interestingly, the game holds quite an importance for Shami, who made an appearance in the playing XI at the expense of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who picked a niggle during Pakistan game in Manchester on June 16.
On his return, Shami bagged four wickets after conceding 40 runs in 9.5 overs.
Shami’s first victim was Mohammad Nabi, who already give India a scare in the low-scoring contest. Nabi holes out in the deep when Hardik Pandya completed a good catch.
On the fourth delivery of his tenth over, Shami castled Aftab Alam before cleaning up Mujeeb Ur Rahman on a searing and much to it an identical delivery he bowled to Aftab.
Trent Boult vs Australia at Lord’s in 2019:
Thus, he has only become the second bowler after Shami in the ongoing World Cup to clinch a hat-trick.
Despite a loss against Australia, Boult has dismissed Usman Khawaja apart from Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff.
Overall, the 11th bowler in World Cup history, the left-arm pacer Boult, has bagged his second ODI hat-trick.
Back in 2018 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Boult has claimed his first ODI hat-trick against Pakistan.
He bowled two unplayable yorkers to Khawaja and Starc before third york which swung a bit struck Behrendorff’s boot. The batsman opted for a DRS, but the replays clearly indicated three reds in favour of a bowler.
Apart from helping Kiwis to restrict Australia at 243 for nine, Boult finished his figures with four for 51 in 10 overs.