A hat-trick in a T20 game or for that matter, in any format, is priceless. Especially in the shortest version, it effectively means that in a 20-over game, the bowler has removed close to 30% of the opposition’s batting line-up within a span of three deliveries. So far, in the history of the format, we have had 23 hat-tricks. Three of those hat-tricks have come in the biggest stage of the T20 World Cup. In this article, we take a look at three bowlers who have taken a hat-trick in T20 World Cup history so far.
1) Brett Lee (Australia) – 2007
Opposition: Bangladesh || Batsmen who got out: Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza and Alok Kapali || Venue: Cape Town
Brett Lee is the first cricketer to pick a T20I hat-trick, and he did that in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup. The Aussie achieved the feat in a group game at the event, which was held in South Africa.
Bangladesh was sitting at 82-3 and looked on the way to posting a decent total. However, Lee took a hat-trick which eventually restricted Bangladesh to just 123 runs. While Shakib was caught by Adam Gilchrist, Mashrafe was bowled and Alok Kapali was caught LBW. Australia won the game easily, losing just one wicket in the chase.
2) Curtis Campher (Ireland) – 2021
Opposition: Netherlands || Batsmen who got out: Colin Ackermann, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Scott Edwards, Roelof van der Merwe || Venue: Abu Dhabi
Curtis Campher is the second name on this list of bowlers who have taken a hat-trick in the T20 World Cup. He not only took a hat-trick, but managed to make it a double hat-trick by collecting four wickets in four consecutive deliveries. Before the game against the Netherlands, Campher had taken just three wickets in his T20I career.
While the first wicket came off a loose leg-side delivery, the next two scalps were LBW. It took a DRS for Campher to get these two wickets. The fourth wicket was the batsmen edging the ball to the stumps.
3) Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) – 2021
Opposition: South Africa || Batsmen who got out: Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma and Dwaine Pretorius || Venue: Sharjah
Wanindu Hasaranga is one of the most improved bowlers in recent months. In a short span, he has climbed the charts of T20I rankings. Against South Africa in the T20 World Cup, he delivered a hat-trick, that spanned across two overs.
While the first wicket was in the last ball of the 15th over, the next two wickets came in the first two deliveries of the 18th over. The hat-trick brought Sri Lanka back in the game but the target was not enough for the Lankans to extract a win.
