Essex cruise to semis after Shaun Tait's hat-trick

Shaun Tait (C) of Essex in action during Essex’s match against Surrey at Chelmsford on July 31,2013

Australian Shaun Tait helped his English T20 side Essex enter the semi-finals of the tournament after grabbing a hat-trick against Nottinghamshire on Thursday.

After Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate made 82 in 44 balls to help Essex amass a massive total of 187/6 in their twenty overs at Trent Bridge, it was Tait’s turn to make matters worse for their opponents, with the consecutive wickets of David Hussey, Ian Butler and Graeme White.

In a season where Essex had emerged to be a laughing stock, after they were bowled out for 20 runs by Lancashire in the County Championship, they have had the last laugh after outshining their opponents to barge into the semis on Thursday.

Tait’s hat-trick began with the wicket of Hussey, who seemed quite dangerous at 61. However, after getting Hussey caught by ten Doeschate, the 30-year old right-hander got rid of Ian Butler before breaking Graeme White’s stumps.