Three bowlers who have picked up a hat-trick in international cricket in 2018

Picking up a hat-trick in any form of cricket is an incredible feat for any bowler to achieve. The magnitude of achievement only grows bigger if a bowler manages to pick up three wickets in three consecutive deliveries in international cricket.

The first hat-trick seen In ODI cricket was by Pakistani bowler Jalal-ud-Din against Australia in 1982 in Hyderabad, Sindh. Chetan Sharma was the first Indian bowler to accomplish such a feat, picking up a hat-trick against New Zealand during the 1987 World Cup.

Lasith Malinga has picked up the most hat-tricks with three, while Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq and Chaminda Vaas have two hat-tricks to their name respectively.

In 2018, there were three hat-tricks seen in cricket, all being achieved in the ODI format. Here we take a look at the bowlers who registered their name in the record books.

Shehan Madushanka

(Image: ICC)

Sri Lanka’s young fast bowling prospect Shehan Madushanka managed to take a hat-trick in his debut match in international cricket itself. His performance came against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium. He picked up the wickets of Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain and Mahmudullah.

Imran Tahir

(Image: ICC)

South African veteran spinner Imran Tahir became the second man in 2018 to pick up a hat-trick in ODI cricket. His feat came against Zimbabwe at Bloemfontein and he picked up the scalps of Sean Williams, Peter Moor and Brandon Mavuta.

Trent Boult

(Image: ICC)

Trent Boult became the third and the final bowler to pick up a hat-trick in 2018. He broke the back of the Pakistani top order in Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium, picking up the wickets of Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez in three consecutive deliveries.