The Saurashtra vs Delhi Ranji Trophy 2022-23 match at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium Ground C started on a record-making note thanks to Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat who achieved a feat that wasn’t done before in the history of the tournament.
Fresh of his India comeback, Unadkat and Saurashtra were asked to bowl first after Delhi captain Yash Dhull won the toss and chose to bat first.
However, the experienced left-arm pacer rattled the Delhi lineup with a hat-trick in the first over of the match itself, removing Dhruv Shorey, Vaibhav Rawal, and Dhull on his third, fourth, and fifth deliveries to see Delhi at 0/3.
Chirag Jani also struck at the other end to remove Ayush Badoni as all four batters failed to get off the mark.
In his second over, Unadkat got rid of Jonty Sidhu and Lalit Yadav on 4 and 0 respectively as Delhi’s score read a baffling 4/5. This five-wicket haul was Unadkat’s 21st in first-class cricket and the left-arm seamer’s figures at the point read: 2-0-5-5.
Delhi’s problems didn’t end there as they were reduced to 10/7 in 5 overs. But then Pranshu Vijaran with 15 settled some nerves, while Hrithik Shokeen (57*) and Shivank Vashisht (24*) took Delhi to 108/8 in 30 overs when lunch was called. They were eventually bowled out for 133 with Unadkat taking 8/39, his new career-best bowling figures.
Thanks to this, Unadkat became the first bowler to take a first-over hat trick in the 88-year history of the Ranji Trophy tournament. Before him, the earliest hat-trick in Ranji Trophy was taken by R Vinay Kumar in the 2017-18 quarter-final, which was spread across the first and third overs.
The match is vital for Saurashtra in their quest to make the knockouts. After three games, they are currently third in Group B with 12 points, including one win and two draws.
