On Tuesday, the 22-year-old UAE leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan took a hat-trick during their crucial match against Sri Lanka in the Group A of the First Round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 at Kardinia Park, Geelong. He also became the youngest cricketer to take a hat-trick in T20 World Cup history.
During the first innings of that game, when Sri Lankan batters were comfortably putting runs on the board, UAE leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan did that magic for his team. The 22 years and 10 days old leg-spinner bowled his third over of the game during the 15th over of that first innings, where Karthik dismissed Bhanuka Rajapaksa (5), Charith Asalanka (0) and Dasun Shanaka (0) in the final three balls of that over.
While Rajapaksa was caught out at the deep cover, the UAE wicketkeeper Vriitya Aravind sharply caught Asalanka’s edge. Finally, Shanaka was bowled by Karthik’s googly to complete that incredible hat trick. From 117/2, the Lankans suddenly moved down to 117/5 in just three balls.
Karthik finished that game with the bowling figures of 4-0-19-3.
Key facts of Karthik Meiyappan’s hat-trick
First UAE bowler to record a T20I hat-trick as well as a hat-trick in international cricket.
At the age of just 22 years and 10 days, Karthik became the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick in T20 World Cup history. The previous record holder was the Irish right-arm medium-fast bowler Curtis Campher who recorded a Men’s T20 World Cup hat-trick at the age of 22 years and 181 days (against Netherlands). Incidentally, Campher recorded that hat-trick on 18th October 2021, exactly a year before Karthik’s hat-trick.
Second leg-spinner as well as the second spinner to take a hat-trick in T20 World Cup history. Sri Lankan cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga was the first leg-spinner (also the first spinner) to record a Men’s T20 World Cup hat-trick (vs South Africa in 2021).
After Sri Lankan cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga (vs South Africa in 2021), Karthik became the second Asian bowler to record a Men’s T20 World Cup hat-trick.
Fifth bowler to take a hat-trick in Men’s T20 World Cup history. The other four names in this list are Australian Brett Lee (vs Bangladesh in 2007), Irish Curtis Campher (vs Netherlands in 2021), Sri Lankan Wanindu Hasaranga (vs South Africa in 2021) and South African Kagiso Rabada (vs England in 2021).
VIDEO OF HAT-TRICK: Karthik Meiyappan’s hat-trick
Sri Lanka dominantly beat UAE
However, Sri Lanka ultimately managed to score a fighting total of 152/8 in 20 overs after losing the toss. Opener Pathum Nissanka scored 74 off 60 balls (6 fours and 2 sixes) and Dhananjaya de Silva managed a valuable 33 off 21 balls.
In reply, UAE were bundled out for just 73 runs in 17.1 overs. Almost all the Sri Lankan bowlers were excellent in that innings, including Wanindu Hasaranga (3/8) and Dushmantha Chameera (3/15).
With that 79-run win, Sri Lanka have got a huge lifeline in this competition. Despite a big 55-run defeat against Namibia, a win against Netherlands is still likely to be enough for the Lankan side to advance to the Super 12 stage of this competition.
Meanwhile, UAE have a very light chance to advance to the Super 12 stage of this competition. Apart from claiming a big win against Namibia in their last game of this group, UAE also have to look out for the result of the earlier Netherlands vs Sri Lanka match, where the Lankan team has to suffer a big defeat.
