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UAE cricketer wins the first HAT TRICK of the Twenty20 World Cup as the 22-year-old slays Sri Lanka’s middle class – including their CAPTAIN – but they fall in Geelong by a massive 79-run defeat
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UAE leg spinner Karthik Meiyappan has taken the first hat-trick of the T20 World Cup in the qualifier against Sri Lanka.
Meiyappan struck in Geelong on Tuesday night in the 15th, while Sri Lanka crossed at 2-117.
First he had Bhanuka Rajapaksa caught in the deep end for five and then Charith Asalanka was caught on the back for a golden duck.
UAE cricketer Karthik Meiyappan has achieved what most cricketers can only dream of
The 22-year-old took a hat-trick during his side’s group stage clash against Sri Lanka
Meiyappan’s hat-trick ball was a beauty, with Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka being thrown between bat and pad.
It is the UAE’s first hat-trick in a T20 international and the fifth in a T20 World Cup.
“Getting a hat-trick in a World Cup game, especially against a test country in Sri Lanka, that’s a really great feeling and it hasn’t sunk in,” Meiyappan said after the innings.
Meiyappan took 3-19 from four overs, while Sri Lanka reached 8-152 from 20 overs.
The spinner celebrates Tuesday with his teammates amid jubilant scenes in Geelong
Opener Pathum Nissanka played with 74 from 60 balls, with six fours and two sixes.
A brilliant dive from Basil Hameed sent Nissanka off Zahoor Khan’s bowling alley with one more ball left in the innings.
The loser of this match is winless after two matches and has no chance of reaching the Super 12 stage of the tournament.