ODI World Cup is one of the most important cricket events as it comes only once in 4 years. Players want to perform and win a World Cup trophy for their respective teams. In the ODI World Cup, we have seen plenty of centuries. But there are only some instances in the ODI World Cup where the bowler has taken a hat-trick. So, let’s look at Iconic hat tricks in the ODI World Cup.
1. Lasith Malinga
It was the 26th match of the 2007 World Cup played between Sri Lanka and South Africa, where Lasith Malinga took 4 wickets in four consecutive balls. In the match, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first. By batting first, Sri Lanka set the score of 209 runs. Then, South Africa came to bat, and they got a very good start. But after the dismissal of Herschelle Gibbs, South Africa started losing wickets at quick intervals. But Sri Lanka snatched the match when Lasith Malinga dismissed Shaun Pollock. But after that, he took three more wickets in consecutive balls. As a result, Lasith Malinga took his first hat-trick in the ODI World Cup.
2. Chaminda Vaas
Chaminda Vaas is one of the finest bowlers that Sri Lanka has ever produced. His left-arm bowling action took a lot of work for batters to play. In the 10th of the 2003 World Cup against Bangladesh, Chaminda Vaas took a hat-trick in the very first over of the match. In the match, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first. In the very 1st ball of the match, Chaminda Vaas bowled Bangladeshi opener Hannan Sarkar. After that, he took two more wickets in the next deliveries and completed his World Cup hat-trick. By achieving this milestone, Chaminda Vaas became the first and only bowler to take a hat-trick in the first over of an ODI World Cup match.
3. Mohammed Shami
It was the 1st match for Mohammed Shami in the 2019 World Cup, and in his first match, he became the second Indian with an ODI World Cup hat-trick. It was the 28th match of the 2019 World Cup, where India played against Afghanistan. In the match, India batted first and needed a better start. With Kohli’s 67 runs and other player’s contributions, India set the target of 224 runs. Even though Afghanistan did not get a good start as well, Mohammad Nabi stood as a wall between India’s win and Afghanistan. But Mohammed Shami got Nabi out and quickly took two wickets in two balls. As a result, Shami completed his hat trick, and India won the match.
4. Brett Lee
Brett Lee is one of the fastest and most lethal bowlers that the world has ever seen. In the 9th match of the 2003 World Cup against Kenya, Brett Lee destroyed Kenya’s batting lineup. In the match, Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first. In the 4th over, Brett Lee first dismissed Kennedy Otieno, then dismissed Brijal Patel. After taking two consecutive wickets, Brett Lee was just a wicket away from taking a hat-trick, and he successfully bowled David Obuya and completed his hat-trick. As a result, Kenya could only manage 174 runs, and Australia easily won the match by 5 wickets.
5. Chetan Sharma
Chetan Sharma was the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the ODI World Cup and achieved this milestone against New Zealand. It was the 24th match of the 1987 World Cup, where India faced New Zealand. New Zealand won the toss in the match and elected to bat first. New Zealand was in a good position as they scored 181 runs at the loss of 6 wickets. However, Chetan Sharma changed the game’s scenario by dismissing the set batsman, Dipak Patel. After taking his wicket, Chetan Sharma took two more wickets in the next deliveries. As a result, Chetan Sharma became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in ODI World Cup.
6. Trent Boult
It was the 37th match of the 2019 World Cup between Australia and New Zealand, and in this match, Trent Boult took the second hat-trick of the 2019 World Cup. In the match, Australia won and decided to bat first. In the last over of Australia’s batting, Trent Boult consecutively dismissed Usman Khawaja, followed by Starc and Jason Behrendroff. As a result, Trent Boult became the first New Zealand bowler to take a hat-trick in ODI World Cup.
7. Saqlain Mushtaq
Pakistan played very well in the 1999 World Cup and reached the finals. One of the main reasons behind their World Cup success was Saqlain Mushtaq, as many batters could not play his Doosra. In the 7th match against Zimbabwe, Pakistan won the toss and batted first, scoring 271 runs. Then Zimbabwe’s batting came, and they struggled to chase the target. In the 40th over, Saqlain Mushtaq brilliantly took three wickets in consecutive balls and completed his hat-trick. As a result, Pakistan won the match by 148 runs.
8. Lasith Malinga
Undoubtedly, Lasith Malinga is one of the best bowlers Sri Lanka has produced, and he proves the same in every big event. It was the 14th match of the 2011 World Cup when Sri Lanka faced Kenya. In the match, Kenya won the toss and decided to bat first. In the 41st over of Kenya’s batting, Lasith Malina took Tanmay Mishra’s wicket at the last bowl. In his next over, Malinga took two wickets in consecutive deliveries. As a result, he completed his second ODI World Cup hat-trick.
9. Steven Finn
It was the 2nd match of the 2015 World Cup, and Australia and England faced each other. In the match, Australia batted first. Steven Finn successfully dismissed Brad Haddin, Maxwell, and Mitchell Johnson in the last balls of Australia’s batting. As a result, Steven Finn became the first English bowler to take a hat-trick in the ODI World Cup. But his hat trick did not lead England to victory, as Australia managed to win the close contest by 11 runs.
10. J.P Duminy
It was the 1st Quarter-Final of the 2015 World Cup, where South Africa played against South Africa. In the match, Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka did not get a good start, and every Sri Lankan batter failed. In the last ball of the 33rd over, J.P. Duminy dismissed Angelo Mathes. Then again, in his next over, J.P Duminy took two consecutive wickets and became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the ODI World Cup Quarter-Final. As a result, Sri Lanka could only score 133 runs, and South Africa easily won the match by 9 wickets.
