Lasith Malinga picks up his maiden T20I hat-trick
The IPL 2017 is well underway with the Mumbai Indians taking on the Rising Pune Supergiant in the 2nd match of the season. Mumbai’s highest ever wicket taker Lasith Malinga is missing from the action but is continuing to make headlines in the 2nd T20 against Bangladesh in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
He took his 1st T20I career hat- trick and his 4th overall against during the 1st innings of the match which is currently underway.
After losing the first T20I, the Tigers began the 2nd match well and ended their innings with 176 runs on the board with the loss of 9 wickets. Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar and Shakib Al Hasan chipped in with useful contributions of 36,34, and 38 respectively. At one stage, it looked like they would cross the 200 run mark but they soon crumbled and lost a lot of wickets.
Malinga who conceded 31 runs in the first 3 overs held his best for the last. During the 19th over of the innings, the Sri Lankan pacer conceded 3 runs in the first two balls. Here is what happened in the next three deliveries:
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18.3: Malinga to Mushfiqur Rahim. OUT! It was another dipping slower ball by Malinga, and Mushfiqur was hoodwinked. It was a slower off-cutter and while Mushfiqur was already through with his favourite slog sweep, Malinga kissed the off stump.
18.4: Malinga to Mashrafe Mortaza, OUT! Mashrafe bagged a golden duck in his last T20 international. The ball was full on middle and dipped at the batsman. Mashrafe looked to late-cut it down towards third man from the stumps but was bowled. It was a poor shot selection by Mashrafe who suffered a golden duck for the first time in his career, unfortunately, in his last T20I ever.
18.5: Malinga to Mehedi Hasan Miraz. OUT! This was another Malinga special as the stadium erupted. The ball dipped at 119 kmph and was full, slow, and straight. Mehedi Hasan played around his front pad and was caught leg-before.
With his 4th hat-trick, he equalled Wasim Akram for the most number of international hat-tricks.
The T20I series ends today and Malinga will be available for selection for Mumbai Indians’s next match against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 9th.