Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins etched his name in the history books of the T20 World Cup, claiming the first hat-trick of the 2024 edition during their Super Eights clash against Bangladesh in Antigua.
The 31-year-old, who also captains Australia in Test and ODI formats, rose to the occasion, dismissing experienced Bangladeshi batsman Mahmudullah and rising star Mahedi Hasan off the last two deliveries of the 18th over. Cummins then returned to dismiss opener Towhid Hridoy with the very first ball of the 20th over, completing a magnificent hat-trick and derailing Bangladesh’s late surge.
This feat not only marked the first hat-trick of the ongoing World Cup but also made Cummins only the second Australian cricketer to achieve this feat on the T20 World Cup stage. Interestingly, the other Australian to claim a hat-trick was the legendary Brett Lee, who also achieved it against Bangladesh in the 2007 edition.
Despite being unaware of being on a hat-trick during the high-pressure match, Cummins’ exceptional bowling display was instrumental in restricting Bangladesh to a manageable total. He finished his spell with impressive figures of 3 wickets for 29 runs, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Speaking after the match, Cummins expressed his delight at joining the exclusive club of Australian T20 World Cup hat-trick takers. He also humorously revealed his teammates had to inform him about the achievement during the celebrations.
Cummins’ fiery bowling, coupled with David Warner’s unbeaten fifty, ensured a comfortable chase for Australia, solidifying their position at the top of Group 1 in the Super Eights stage.
