Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya became the latest bowler in international cricket to take a hat-trick. His feat was different in the sense that it came in a losing cause. Utseya, however, is not alone on the list. A few other players have also achieved hat-tricks in losing causes in one-day internationals. Here’s a look.
Prosper Utseya (5 for 36): Utseya claimed 5 for 36 against South Africa at Harare on Friday during the third match of the tri-series tournament. His dismissals were those of Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw and David Miller off the last three balls of the 27th over. Utseya also claimed the scalps of Hashim Amla and JP Duminy to claim a five-for. Utseya’s magnificent knock restricted Zimbabwe to 231 all out. Zimbabwe’s bowling however couldn’t stand up to challenge, and folded up for 170 as South Africa registered victory by 61 runs.
Lasith Malinga (4 for 54): This magnificent performance came from the Sri Lankan fast bowler during the Super Eights match of the 2007 World Cup match at Guyana. Sri Lanka were all out for 209 batting first as Charl Langeveldt claimed a five-for. In response, South Africa were cruising to defeat thanks to pleasant half-centuries from Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis. Malinga then dismissed Pollock, Hall, Kallis and Ntini off successive deliveries as South Africa collapsed to 207 for 9. Robin Peterson then got them home with a streaky boundary.
Daniel Christian (5 for 31): The Aussie all-rounder claimed a hat-trick in the 12th match of the Commonwealth Bank series at Melbourne of March 2, 2012. Christian dismissed Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake and Nuwan Kulasekara in the 44th over. He also sent back Angelo Mathews and last man Lasith Malinga to finish with figures of 5 for 31. Sri Lanka folded up for 238, but Malinga’s four-for kept Australia down to 229 as Lanka won by nine runs.
Shane Bond (4 for 61): This was the second match of the Commonwealth Bank Series in January 2007 played at Hobart. Bond dismissed Cameron White, Andrew Symonds and Nathan Bracken in the last over of Australia’s innings, but the batting side had bludgeoned their way to 289. Michael Clarke was Bond’s other wicket. New Zealand failed to chase the score down and were bundled out for 184 in 38.3 overs. Johnson, Clark and Symonds claimed two wickets each as Bond’s hat-trick went in vain, as Australia won by 105 runs.
Clint McKay (4 for 39): The Aussie fast bowler claimed a hat-trick against England at Cardiff in September 2013 during the fourth match of the Natwest Series against England. Batting first, Australia were restricted to 227. McKay then dismissed Pietersen, Trott and Root in the third over of the innings to have England in the woods at 3 for 8. McKay, later, also dismissed Ben Stokes. However, half-centuries from Michael Carberry, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler took them home by three wickets.
--By A Cricket Analyst
