[Watch] Pat Cummins records historic hat-trick during AUS vs AFG T20 World Cup Super 8 matchÂ
Australia pacer Pat Cummins recorded back-to-back hat-tricks after repeating the feat in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against Afghanistan. The match is underway at the Arnos Vale Ground in St. Vincent on Saturday, June 22.
Coming off an excellent bowling display in the commanding win over Bangladesh recently, Australia were put under pressure by Afghanistan. The duo of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran posted 118 runs for the first wicket. However, the innings began to crumble as Australia dealt with wickets at the back end of the innings.
Cummins had bowled the first two overs of his spell in the powerplay, conceding 16 runs. He returned to the attack in the 18th over and bowled a tight over when Afghanistan were looking to stretch their total. He dismissed Rashid Khan with a slower delivery to conclude the over.
The Afghanistan skipper tried to slog the ball over the boundary for a six but holed out to Tim David at long-on. Cummins was handed the ball for the final over and began by sending back Karim Janat. It was a similar dismissal to the previous one as Janat failed to clear the boundary and found Tim David at long-on.
The decisive hat-trick delivery saw Gulbadin Naib perish while trying to ramp up the score. The veteran all-rounder's attempt was easily caught by Glenn Maxwell at deep mid-wicket to complete the hat-trick. Have a look at the incredible achievement right here:
After consecutive wickets, Cummins could have had a separate hat-trick in the 20th over itself, and four in a row overall, but David Warner dropped the catch. Nangeyalia Kharote had slammed the third ball of the over towards deep point, where Warner spilled the ball.
"I remembered that one" - Pat Cummins on his hat-trick
After his spell against Bangladesh in the Super 8 stage, Cummins had become only the second Australian bowler after Brett Lee to record a hat-trick in T20 World Cup history. However, after repeating the feat in the very next match itself, the right-arm pacer has entered the record books yet again.
"Yeah, I remembered that one. Hundreds of games for Australia and all of a sudden two in a row. Thought they batted well but we also restricted them. Decent effort, probably not our best day in the field," Cummins said during the innings break (via ESPNCricinfo).
Cummins had forgotten that he was on a hat-trick against Bangladesh as it was a fragmented one, much like the one against Afghanistan. On that occasion, he had picked up two wickets in the 18th over and one in the final over.