Nomvelo Sibanda Creates History With A Hat-Trick

Zimbabwe Women’s left-arm pacer Nomvelo Sibanda created history in Women’s T20I during the recent final of the Capricorn Women's Tri-Series 2022 against the hosts Namibia Women. She became the first player to record a hat-trick in a WT20I final. Meanwhile, she also became the second player to record a hat-trick in a T20 international final, including Men’s T20I.

It was the match between the hosts Namibia Women and Zimbabwe Women at Windhoek last Tuesday (26th April). In that WT20I tri-series final, Namibia Women were bundled out for just 70 runs in 13.3 overs after losing the toss. In reply, Zimbabwe Women chased down that target in 9.1 overs after losing three wickets. The Lady Chevrons won that game by seven wickets and finished as the winners of that WT20I tri-series.

Nomvelo Sibanda hat-trick

During the first innings of that final, Nomvelo Sibanda not only finished with the incredible bowling figures of 3.3-0-14-5, but she also claimed a hat-trick in her very first over of the match. In the second over of the match, Sibanda bowled the opener Jurriene Diergaardt and Kayleen Green and then forced Sune Wittmann to get caught behind to complete her hat-trick.

Sibanda became the first Zimbabwe cricketer to record a hat-trick in a T20 international match, including Men’s T20I. She also became the first cricketer to record a hat-trick in a WT20I final. However, in Men’s T20I, there is already one record of a hat-trick in a final match.

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Elijah Otieno was the first cricketer to record a hat-trick in a Men’s T20I final

Kenyan right-arm pacer Elijah Otieno is the only men’s cricketer to hold the record of a hat-trick in a final match. It was the final of the Uganda T20 Tri-Series 2021/22, where Kenya faced the hosts Uganda at Entebbe on 17th September 2021. During the first innings of that match, Otieno recorded a hat-trick after dismissing the skipper Deusdedit Muhumuza, Kenneth Waiswa and Bilal Hassun during the 19th over of that innings.

Otieno ended that match with the bowling figures of 4-0-18-3 as Uganda managed to score 120/9 in 20 overs. However, Uganda ultimately won that final after restricting Kenya to 114/8 in 20 overs.

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Nomvelo Sibanda fifer

Coming back to the latest WT20I final, Nomvelo Sibanda became the fourth bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in a WT20I final. Meanwhile, in overall T20 international (including Men’s T20I), Sibanda became the fifth bowler to record a five-wicket haul.

Bowlers with a five-wicket haul in a T20 international final (including Men’s and Women’s)

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