Malinga Took 4 wickets in 4 balls on this day in the 2007 World Cup: Taking a hat trick is considered as one of the greatest achievements for bowlers in cricket but the name ‘Lasith Malinga’ was used to of it. This Sri Lankan right-arm unorthodox pacer made taking wickets look so easy that many bowlers might have been jealous of him. Malinga has even taken 4 wickets in 4 straight deliveries, and not just once, but twice in history. Here, in this article, you will read and watch, how Malinga Took 4 wickets in 4 balls on this day in the 2007 World Cup.
On this date in 2007, Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga reached one of the apexes of his cricket career by taking four wickets in four balls. Malinga reached this feat in the 26th game of the ICC Cricket World Cup against South Africa. The “Yorker King” accomplished this incredible achievement in the game played at Providence Stadium in Georgetown and became the first bowler in international cricket to take four wickets in four balls.
Mahela Jayawardene, the captain of Sri Lanka, won the toss for the 50-over match and elected to bat first. The Sri Lankan captain’s choice quickly appeared to be incorrect after the team was dismissed for a meager 209 in 49.3 overs. Due to Tillakaratne Dilshan’s scorching 58 and Russell Arnold’s half-century, the Lions were at least able to reach a respectable score.
With 210 runs to score in 50 overs, South Africa was soon cruising in the right direction riding on Graeme Smith’s 59 and Jacques Kalis’ 89. At 206/5, South Africa was just 4 runs away from victory when Lasith Malinga came on board to bowl. He took 4 wickets in 4 consecutive deliveries and left the equation looking totally different. South Africa, who were 206 for 5 wickets down, were 207 for 9 down after 10 balls (another bowler’s over in between).
Although South Africa finally managed to reach the target safely after that over and won the match by 1 wicket in the 49th over of the game, Malinga set the record for the first ever 4 consecutive wickets in World Cups. Let’s take a look at each of those 4 wickets in detail:
Lasith Malinga’s 4 balls, 4 wickets vs South Africa
- 1st Wicket: The equation was 4 needed of 32 balls and Shaun Pollock at the strike facing Lasith Malinga. It was a slower one and precise yorker at the leg stump and Pollock went too early for it. S Pollock was sent back to the pavilion with a personal score of 13 runs.
- 2nd Wicket: 4 runs off the 31 balls, the new batter at the crease named Andrew Hall. Another slower one, another yorker at 4th stump, and Hall chipped it up in order to loft it over covers but the ball ended in the hands of Tharanga at covers. It was the last ball of that over.
- 3rd Wicket: After an over, South Africa needed 3 runs in 24 balls. Malinga on a hattrick but the set batsman Jacques Kallis was in the strike. Malinga bowled a quick uppish bowl and Kallis nicked it to the keeper and celebrations all around. Malinga took the hat trick in a World Cup match.
- 4th Wicket: It was like just putting the cherry on top of Icecream but South African batters were making it harder for themselves or it was Malinga who did so! 3 needed off 23. Makhaya Ntini was the next man in, again a quick 144kph+ delivery, another yorker right at the target took off bails of Ntini and that was the moment, “The Yorker king” took 4 in 4. The Iconic ‘Lasith Malinga’ Celebration.
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