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Off-spinner accounted for three Zimbabwe batsmen in three balls in 1999 World Cup Super Sixes match
PHOTO COURTESY: ESPNCRICINFO
Pakistan has always been known for its firepower in the bowling department. In 1999 World Cup, when Pakistan entered the Super Sixes stage, it had already beaten West Indies, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand in the group stages. The consecutive victories were followed by defeats against Bangladesh and South Africa.
However, when the time came to complete the job in Super Sixes and qualify for the semi-finals, off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq stepped up as the perfect finisher against Zimbabwe.
Pakistan riding on the back of Saeed Anwar’s 103 off 144 balls set a 272-run target for Alistair Campbell-led side. Heath streak and Henry Olonga had bagged two wickets apiece for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe, in their chase, lost their first six wickets under the century mark. Paul Strang was the seventh batsmen to be dismissed as Zimbabwe were restricted to 110-7 after Azhar took an astounding one-handed catch in slips off Shoaib Akhtar.
Zimbabwe could only add 13 more runs to their total when Saqlain came to bowl the 41st over of the match. And then the rest is history.
Henry Olonga charged forward for a slog over midwicket and missed the first ball of the over. Moin Khan, behind the stumps, was quick to take off the bails. Third umpire was only referred to as a precaution.
Adam Huckle walked in and went for a big swing as well; he was perfectly squared by Saqlain’s off-spinner on that occasion. Moin felt practising collect-and-stump during the two dismissals.
With the crowd ecstatic and expecting a hat-trick from their favourite off-spinner, Pakistani fielders were brought in for a nick or edge. Pommie Mbangwa, with five fielders surrounding him, decided to go for a Test-like block but was struck in front of the wickets on his pads. Umpire raised his finger and the match was well over.
Jubilations were obvious as the teammates, followed by the crowd, hugged and cheered Saqlain who became the then second only person in the world of 50-over cricket to bag two hat-tricks. The first one, without any doubt, was a Pakistani too — the great Wasim Akram.
Later, Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga bettered this record by taking three hat-tricks in ODIs. One of them was actually a four-on-four against South Africa at Guyana in 2007.
However, in ODIs, Pakistan has fared better than all the cricketing nations when it comes to hat-tricks. In the stated history of ODI cricket, a total of 39 hat-tricks have been taken and Pakistani bowlers have grabbed eight out of them — the most by any nation.
Even the first stated ODI hat-trick was taken by a Pakistan medium-pacer Jalalud Din in 1982 against Australia. Wasim followed with two in 1989 and 1990 against West Indies and Australia respectively. Aaqib Javed then struck thrice against India in 1991 at Sharjah. Waqar Younis trembled the Kiwis in 1994 with his three-on-three.
Then came Saqlain with his two hat-tricks; both against Zimbabwe in 1996 and 1999. His feat was followed by Muhammad Sami in 2002 when he caught one LBW and bowled the next two batsmen to bag a hat-trick at Sharjah — the last one for Pakistan by any bowler till today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE-bI9eAdAQ
However, when the time came to complete the job in Super Sixes and qualify for the semi-finals, off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq stepped up as the perfect finisher against Zimbabwe.
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Pakistan riding on the back of Saeed Anwar’s 103 off 144 balls set a 272-run target for Alistair Campbell-led side. Heath streak and Henry Olonga had bagged two wickets apiece for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe, in their chase, lost their first six wickets under the century mark. Paul Strang was the seventh batsmen to be dismissed as Zimbabwe were restricted to 110-7 after Azhar took an astounding one-handed catch in slips off Shoaib Akhtar.
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Zimbabwe could only add 13 more runs to their total when Saqlain came to bowl the 41st over of the match. And then the rest is history.
Henry Olonga charged forward for a slog over midwicket and missed the first ball of the over. Moin Khan, behind the stumps, was quick to take off the bails. Third umpire was only referred to as a precaution.
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Adam Huckle walked in and went for a big swing as well; he was perfectly squared by Saqlain’s off-spinner on that occasion. Moin felt practising collect-and-stump during the two dismissals.
With the crowd ecstatic and expecting a hat-trick from their favourite off-spinner, Pakistani fielders were brought in for a nick or edge. Pommie Mbangwa, with five fielders surrounding him, decided to go for a Test-like block but was struck in front of the wickets on his pads. Umpire raised his finger and the match was well over.
Jubilations were obvious as the teammates, followed by the crowd, hugged and cheered Saqlain who became the then second only person in the world of 50-over cricket to bag two hat-tricks. The first one, without any doubt, was a Pakistani too — the great Wasim Akram.
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Later, Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga bettered this record by taking three hat-tricks in ODIs. One of them was actually a four-on-four against South Africa at Guyana in 2007.
However, in ODIs, Pakistan has fared better than all the cricketing nations when it comes to hat-tricks. In the stated history of ODI cricket, a total of 39 hat-tricks have been taken and Pakistani bowlers have grabbed eight out of them — the most by any nation.
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Even the first stated ODI hat-trick was taken by a Pakistan medium-pacer Jalalud Din in 1982 against Australia. Wasim followed with two in 1989 and 1990 against West Indies and Australia respectively. Aaqib Javed then struck thrice against India in 1991 at Sharjah. Waqar Younis trembled the Kiwis in 1994 with his three-on-three.
Then came Saqlain with his two hat-tricks; both against Zimbabwe in 1996 and 1999. His feat was followed by Muhammad Sami in 2002 when he caught one LBW and bowled the next two batsmen to bag a hat-trick at Sharjah — the last one for Pakistan by any bowler till today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE-bI9eAdAQ