UAE leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan bagged the first hat-trick of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 against Sri Lanka in Geelong on Tuesday (October 18).
It all happened in the 15th over of Sri Lanka’s innings. Meiyappan removed Bhanuka Rajapaksa on the fourth delivery, caught at deep extra cover and followed it with the dismissal of Charith Asalanka, caught behind. He knocked over Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka on the last ball of that over to complete his hat-trick.
Karthik Meiyappan eventually returned with figures of 3 for 19 from his four overs. His hat-trick also triggered a collapse as Sri Lanka went from 117/2 to 120/6 in a span of six deliveries.
With his heroics, Meiyappan became the fifth bowler after Brett Lee (2007), Curtis Campher (2021), Wanindu Hasaranga (2021), and Kagiso Rabada (2021) to claim hat-tricks at the T20 World Cup. He also recorded UAE’s first hat-trick in Men’s T20Is.
Here’s the video of his hat-trick:
Opener Pathum Nissanka was the top scorer for Sri Lanka, slamming 74 off 60 balls, propelling the Island Nation to a fighting 152/8 in 20 overs.
