5 instances of bowlers having taken a hat-trick split across two overs
Hat-tricks in any form of cricket are rare occurrences. At times, it comes off as a result of some disciplined bowling and persistent attack at the batsmen, while on other occasions, it comes as a result of some negligence on the batsman’s part or maybe just sheer luck. Whatever may be the case, getting wickets off three consecutive deliveries isn’t a day-to-day activity, which is why cricketers who etch out such a feat are fondly remembered.
However, there have been instances when three consecutive wickets haven’t come off three consecutive balls in the same over. It becomes a confusion of sorts when that happens, as sometimes, even the bowler is caught unaware of the scheme of things and fails to realise that he has actually picked up a hat-trick. Here, in this piece, we enumerate five such hat-tricks to have happened across two overs.
Abdur Razzak (Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, 2010)
In the second ODI between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at Mirpur during the 2010 ODI series, the visitors were looking to seal the three-match series, having already won the first ODI. However, the hosts were in no mood to relent, as after winning the toss and electing to field first, Bangladesh put up an impressive show with the ball and reduced the visiting team to 132/6 in 37 overs.
Thereafter, Craig Ervine and Prosper Utseya shared a 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket, and it looked like the pair would take the African nation to a total of some respectability. However, the left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak had other plans, as he sealed the deal for his team and brought an end to Zimbabwe’s struggle. Razzak first dismissed Utseya on the last ball of the 45th over, by getting the batsman caught by Naeem Islam.
Thenceforth, on the first two balls of his next over, the 47th of the innings, Razzak bundled the Zimbabweans out by trapping Ray Price as well as Christopher Mpofu leg-before-wicket. In total, the spinner finished with five wickets in the match, having already picked up the wickets of Tatenta Taibu and Regis Chakabva earlier in the innings. As a consequence, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 191 in 46.2 overs, and Bangladesh easily scaled the target of 192 with six wickets in hand.