Friday, March 8, 2024, witnessed a rare feat in cricket history – two hat-tricks on the same day! Deepti Sharma, the Indian spin sensation, etched her name in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) record books, while Akeal Hossain delivered a crucial spell in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Deepti Sharma: WPL 2024 first Hat-Trick
Deepti Sharma became the first Indian bowler to achieve a hat-trick in the WPL. Playing for UP Warriorz against Delhi Capitals, she turned the tide of the match with her exceptional bowling. Her leg-before decision against captain Meg Lanning sent shivers down the Capitals’ spine.
But Deepti wasn’t done yet. In a phenomenal penultimate over, she dismissed both Annabel Sutherland and Arundhati Reddy, leaving the Capitals reeling. This remarkable feat – three wickets in three consecutive deliveries – was the first hat-trick of the current WPL season and only the second in the league’s history.
Deepti Sharma earns Player of the Match Award
Deepti Sharma contribution wasn’t limited to her hat-trick. She also impressed with the bat, scoring a crucial half-century (59 runs off 48 balls). This all-round performance – four wickets for just 19 runs and a well-crafted fifty – earned her a well-deserved Player of the Match award.
The Warriorz’s one-run victory kept their playoff hopes alive, thanks in large part to Deepti’s exceptional display.
Akeal Hossain Hat-Trick in PSL
Across the border in Pakistan, Akeal Hossain provided similar excitement in the PSL. While his team, Quetta Gladiators, ultimately lost by massive 76-run against Peshawar Zalmi, it was Hossain’s hat-trick that stole the show.
From Flier to Hossain’s Hat-Trick Heroics
Peshawar Zalmi got off to a flying start thanks to knocks from Saim Ayub and Babar Azam. They were cruising towards a mammoth total when Hossain intervened. In his final over, he unleashed a fiery spell, claiming a hat-trick. Amer Jamal, Mehran Mumtaz, and Luke Wood all fell victim to his exceptional bowling, leaving him with impressive figures of 4 for 23.
Dominant Victory for Peshawar Zalmi
Despite Hossain’s hat-trick, Peshawar Zalmi’s batting ended on a great note, finishing with 196/8. In return, Zalmi’s bowling attack, proved too strong for Quetta Gladiators. Quetta were dismissed for a mere 120 runs, securing a dominant victory for Peshawar Zalmi and their place in the PSL playoffs.
