By CricketCrowd UK Bureau Reporter, London, 29th June 2019

Indian quick Mohammed Shami settled a tense match against Afghanistan in the 2019 World Cup with a last over hat-trick. Shami had Nabi caught for 52 before demolishing the stumps of numbers 10 and 11 with searing yorkers as India edged home by 11 runs in Southampton.

Kiwi left arm quick Trent Boult conjured a masterful final-over hat-trick as New Zealand were beaten by Australia at Lord’s during the 2019 World Cup. Boult bowled Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc. Boult completed the hat-trick when he trapped Jason Behrendorff leg before.

Lasith Malinga and Kemar Roach had high impact hat-tricks a few days apart to bring the 2011 World Cup to life for paceman, on the low slow sub continental pitches.

But what is the historical importance of these hat tricks in world cup cricket?

A hat-trick occurs when a bowler dismisses three batsmen with consecutive deliveries. Since the inception of the World Cup in 1975, there have only been 11 hat tricks taken by 10 bowlers, merely confirming how rare hat tricks are. This is also why bowlers treasure this feat as it generally defines their career.

First hat trick

Twelve years after the launch of the premier world one day cricket tournament, Indian paceman Chetan Sharma entered an exclusive club when he became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in a 1987 World Cup match. Sharma’s feat was achieved on 31st Oct 1987 as India took on New Zealand at Vidarbha Cricket Stadium. His victims were Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Ewen Chatfield. Sharma’s feat triggered a collapse as India went onto win by easily 9 wickets, assuring him of a place in history.

When asked about his feat recently in the Times of India, Sharma said that "I'm happy that even when I'm no more, people will talk about me whenever a bowler takes a hat-trick in the World Cup,". Sharma recollects getting encouragement from Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar prior to bowling his hat trick delivery "After getting the second wicket, I had a long chat with Kapil Dev. Sunil Gavaskar was standing to my left at mid-off and it was heartening to receive encouraging words from two players I grew up idolising”.

Only spinner in club

Another twelve year wait ensued and this time “doosra” inventor Saqlain Mushtaq of Pakistan took a hat trick as he bowled out Zimbabwe for 123 to secure a massive 148 run win on 11 June 1999 at The Oval. Saqlain had Henry Olonga and A G Huckle both stumped by Moin Khan, and then had last man M Mbangwa leg before. Saqlain is the first and only spinner in this exclusive club.

2003 World Cup sees two feats

Canny left arm seamer Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka had Bangladesh 4 wickets for 5 runs after the first over as he took a hat trick on 14 Feb 2003 at the City Oval. His victims were Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful and Ehsanul Haque as Sri Lanka thumped Bangladesh by 10 wickets.

A month later, fast bowler Brett Lee shone in Australia’s 5 wicket win over Kenya on 15 March 2003 in Durban. Lee took out Otieno, Patel, and D O Obuya to claim the hat trick.

Historical double hat trick

On 28th March 2007, Lasith “Slinger” Malinga of Sri Lanka took four wickets in four balls against South Africa at Providence Stadium, Guyana. This is the only time that a bowler has taken the “double hat trick” in all forms of international cricket. Malinga almost turned a lost cause on its head when he knocked over Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall and Jacques Kallis as South Africa slid to 207-8. He almost won the match but a snick went past the lone slip to the boundary and South Africa scampered home by 1 wicket.

New Entrants in 2011 and 2015

Pocket rocket Kemar Roach of West Indies blasted the Netherlands at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi on 28th Feb 2011 as he secured a hat trick. Roach trapped Pieter Seelaar and Bernard Loots lbw and smashed Berend Westdijk's middle stump off successive deliveries to join the club as the Windies won in a canter. Roach was delighted with his feat “The ability to keep my pace up and be accurate is the biggest positive for me. The surface was slow, so our plan was to bowl straight and fast".

Lasith Malinga became the first bowler to take two world cup hat tricks as Sri Lanka trounced Kenya on 1st March 2011 at R Premadasa Stadium. Malinga took 6 wickets, and his hat trick victims were T Mishra, P J Ongondo, and S O Ngoche. This hat trick was spread over two overs. Malinga also got another wicket two balls later.

During 2015 World Cup, English paceman Steve Finn (5-71) took a hat-trick off the last three balls of the 50th over as Australia posted a massive 342.

In the quarter finals of the 2015 World Cup, part-time spinner JP Duminy became the first South African to take a World Cup hat-trick against Sri Lanka.

Full list of hat tricks in World Cup Cricket:

1987: Chetan Sharma (India) v New Zealand (Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith, Ewen Chatfield)

1999: Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) v Zimbabwe (Henry Olonga, Adam Huckle, Pommie Mbangwa)

2003: Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) v Bangladesh (Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful, Ehsanul Haque)

2003: Brett Lee (Australia) v Kenya (Kennedy Otieno, Brijal Patel, David Obuya)

2007: Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) v South Africa (Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini)

2011: Kemar Roach (West Indies) v Netherlands (Pieter Seelaar, Bernard Loots, Berend Westdijk)

2011: Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) v Kenya (Tanmay Mishra, Peter Ongondo, Shem Ngoche)

2015: Steve Finn (England) v Australia.

2015; J P Duminy (South Africa) v Sri Lanka.

2019 : Mohammad Shami (India) v Afghanistan.

2019: Trent Boult (New Zealand) v Australia

Related content: World Cup Major Events (1975-now)

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