How often do you see a hat-trick in the game of cricket? One in 10 games or 20 games. And how many times you see two hat-tricks in a single day? If you don’t feel that this cannot happen, we have some surprising news for you.
In the ongoing edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), Rashid Khan from Adelaide Strikers and Haris Rauf from Melbourne Stars took hat-tricks in their respective games against Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.
Rashid Khan, who was playing the 200th match of his T20 career, took the wickets of England batsman James Vince on the fifth ball of his third over. The ball was full, outside and Vince tried to poke his bat on it. Got an edge and the ball was safely caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
🗣️ Rashid Khan's got a hat-trick on Josh Hazlewood's birthday! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/4alJfpWzCY
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 8, 2020
Next to go was Jack Edwards, who was dismissed for a golden duck, on the last ball of that same over. It was the googly that completely bamboozled the batsman and the ball went on to hit the front leg. When he came back for his last over, the whole stadium was buzzing with Rashid’s name and he did not disappoint. He bowled a googly once again and picked up the wicket of Jordan Silk to complete his hat-trick.
The bowler from Afghanistan has now three hat-tricks to his in the shortest format. Rashid ended the match by giving away just 22 runs in his 4 overs and picking up 4 wickets in the process.
Meanwhile, Haris Rauf did this phenomenon in the ongoing game between the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder. Coming into his last over, Rauf picked up the wicket of Matthew Gilkes with a slower one. Gilkes wanted to flick the ball for a maximum but gave an easy catch to Sandeep Lamichhane on fine-leg.
An iconic BBL moment.
Enjoy Haris Rauf's hat-trick! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/Qm8iYrIRfA
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 8, 2020
On the next ball, he got the better of Callum Ferguson by another slower delivery. But his moment of glory came on the next ball when took the wicket of Daniel Sams on the first ball that he faced. Sams looked to play across the line from the crease and was beaten on the inside edge by some distance. He got rapped on the back leg.
Rauf picked up three wickets in his four overs and gave away just 23 runs.
This is the first time in the history of Big Bash League (BBL) that two hat-tricks have been taken on a single day. As of now, Melbourne Stars still need 67 runs to win the game in 58 balls.
