On this day: The first-ever hat-trick in ODI cricket
The One Day International cricket has evolved over the years and all the batters, and bowlers individually and collectively have gone on to showcase noteworthy performances in this format over the years.
Meanwhile, taking a hat-trick is one of the most difficult tasks in ODIs and it was on this very day in 1982 that former bowler Jalad-ud-Din achieved this unique feat against Australia for the very first time in ODI history.
When Jalad-ud-Din etched his name in history books
Pakistan faced Australia in the first One Day International at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad. After being asked to bat first, opener Mohsin Khan was the lone warrior for the hosts as he went on to score 104 runs off 101 deliveries. Unfortunately for Pakistan, there were no major contributions from anyone barring Javed Miandad’s 31 as they were restricted to 229/6 from their quota of 40 overs.
It seemed as if Australia would comfortably go on to take a 1-0 lead, but Jalad had other ideas and completely applied the brakes on the visitors’ momentum. Openers Bruce Laird and Graeme Wood added 104 runs for the first wicket before the latter was dismissed by Tauseef Ahmed for 52.
It was at that the then 23-year-old Jalad made his presence felt and took the match away from the visitors. The promising pacer first accounted for Rod Marsh cheaply with only one run against his name by castling the wicketkeeper-batter. Jalal then had Bruce Yardley caught behind off the very next delivery and then bowled out Geoff Lawson for a golden duck to complete his hat-trick.
Thus, Jalal-ud-Din became the first-ever bowler to register an ODI hat-trick and went on to etch his name in cricketing history. He finished his spell with figures of 4/32 from his eight overs at an economy of exactly four, including a maiden as Pakistan emerged victorious by 59 runs.
However, despite boasting of having accomplished the first-ever ODI hat-trick, Jalal’s international career never clicked as he only managed to play six Test matches and eight One Day Internationals, picking up 11 and 14 wickets respectively. His 4/32 against Australia in the match where he took a hat-trick happens to be his best bowling figure in One Day Internationals.
