Many of the greatest bowlers to have played the sport never managed the elusive feat of a hat-trick of wickets. Amit Mishra, the India leg-spinner of middling prestige, has managed three in the space of five IPL seasons, and for three teams.
Having completed the feat first in the colours of Delhi Daredevils, then for the Deccan Chargers, he recorded his hat-trick of hat-tricks last year in the natty orange and grey of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In doing so, he saved his side from the most parlous position with the ultimate match-turning over. Pune Warriors were easing down to victory with 14 needed off the final two overs, with four wickets in hand, when Mishra was handed the ball in the 19th over. He dismissed Angelo Mathews, Pune’s Sri Lankan all-rounder, then finished off the game with a hat-trick off the last three balls of his over, retiring Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Sharma and Ashok Dinda. Easy.
“I did not try for any tricks, I wanted to keep it simple,” Mishra said afterwards. “I did not think of any other thing, just bowled to get the wickets and I got a hat-trick.”
He said that Sunrisers captain Cameron White “said to me that I should go for wickets and I did just that. It’s a great feeling”.
pradley@thenational.ae
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