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Sunday, August 1, 2021

A test hat-trick at Gros Islet

There have been 46 of them and nine of them after 2010 – Peter Siddle, Stuart Broad, Sohag Gazi, Stuart Broad again,  HMRKB Herath, MM ali,  Jasprit Bumrah, Naseem Shah and now Keshav Maharaj !! – it started with Fred Spofforth way back in 1879 !  ~  a Test Hat-trick !!


This afternoon, we eagerly wanted India to perform better in the World Test Championship (WTC) at Southampton.  India had a good start with a good opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill but nothing much better after that.  Today day 4 has been washed out as rain continues to play spoil sport.  The persistent rain leave India and New Zealand a maximum of 196 overs - including the reserve day - to identify an outright winner. In case of a draw, the inaugural WTC will have joint winners who will share the award money and the trophy.

I was not following the other test happening at Gros Islet ! – where ?  Gros Islet is located near the northern tip of the island country of Saint Lucia. Originally a quiet fishing village, it has gone on to become one of the more popular tourist destinations in the country.  In 1778, as a retaliation for the declaration of war on the British by the French, the British navy captured the island of Saint Lucia from the French, and built a naval base at Gros Islet Bay – now South Africa is  playing West Indies in a Test match there.

At Lunch on day 4 West Indies needs 215 runs more  for victory is in dire straits losing 6 for 109.  The summary of the 2nd test  reads :   South Africa: 298 & 174- West Indies (target 324)  149 & 109/6

He did play in India too – remember that Vishapatham test in 2019  .. ..  Keshav Athmanand Maharaj  has graduated.  His   father, Athmanand, was also a wicketkeeper.  Two decades later, Keshav has made a career as a left-arm spinner to fulfill his father's dream.  A left-arm spinner from Northwood Boys High, the alma mater of Shaun Pollock, Keshav Maharaj emerged at a time when South Africa began to take spin seriously.  In his youth, Maharaj was a pace bowler, whose father played for Natal B during segregation years. He turned to spin later.   

Today at Gros Isles – 36.3 -  Kieran Powell tried sweeping Maharaj and the man at legside fence Nortje took the catch.  Powell was out for 51.  Next ball experienced Jason Holder inner edged to short leg – caught Petersen bowled Maharaj for a duck.   Joshua Da Silva wicketkeeper batsman from Trinidad was the next, to face hat-trick ball, with a slip, silly point, leg slip, short leg and backward short leg.  Mulder dived to his right and took  one-handed catch  falling down. Maharaj becomes only the second from his country to take three in three balls !

Of the 46 hat-tricks in Test Cricket – England has taken 14 (13 taken against them); Australia 11; Pakistan 5; West Indies 4; India 3 (Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan & Jasprit Bumrah); Bangladesh 2; Srilanka 2; New Zealand 2; South Africa 2 and Zimbabwe 1

Interesting !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
21st June 2021 @ 22:00hrs.

 

 

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