Flashback: First hat-trick of T20 World Cup
The ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia has seen two hattricks already, one in the qualifiers and one in the Super 12 stages. Karthik Meiyappan, the leg spinner from UAE, picked up the first against Sri Lanka in the qualifier stages while Ireland’s Josh Little was the latest entrant to the list when he picked up a hattrick against New Zealand in the Super 12 stages. But now is the time to move back to the first hat trick of the T20 World Cup.
One of the fastest bowlers to have played the game, Brett Lee was the first to pick up a hat trick in the T20 World Cup in 2007. He managed to achieve the feat against Bangladesh in the Super eight stages and broke the backbone of the batting line-up. It was a masterclass of bowling from Lee at the Cape Town as the fans witnessed something extraordinary from the right arm quick.
It was in the 17th over of the innings after Bangladesh were put into bat first and Lee managed to get rid of Shakib Al Hasan on the third delivery with a caught-behind dismissal. On the very next delivery, Mashrafe Mortaza was cleaned up with a blistering yorker that tailed back at good pace. On a hattrick, Alok Kapali walked out to the middle and Lee was steaming in through his run-up.
Kapali was struck on the pads on a full delivery and a big appeal was made to the umpire. With a slight thought at the start, the umpire raised his finger and it was a huge moment for the Australian quick. It was the first ever hat trick in the T20 World Cup and the players on the field celebrated it to acknowledge the special feat from Lee.
Australia chased down the target of 124 in just 13.5 overs and Lee was adjudged the player of the match for his figures of 3 for 27 in his four overs.
