Logan van Beek becomes the first Netherlands bowler to pick up a hat-trick in T20Is

Dutch pace bowler Logan van Beek was the star with the ball in his hand for the Netherlands in their victory against Hong Kong on Tuesday, July 12. 

Van Beek tore through the Hong Kong batting line-up as he picked up four wickets and took a hat-trick in the process. 

Logan van Beek made his T20I debut for the Netherlands in the 2014 World T20. He played his first game against UAE on March 17, 2014. 

He had a slow start to his career as he had taken only two wickets and scored three runs in the first six games of his career. Till now, he has played 12 T20Is for the Netherlands. 

On Tuesday, the right-arm medium-fast bowler became the first Dutch bowler to pick up a hat-trick in T20 internationals. He also won the player of the match award for his bowling exploits in the seventh match of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier against Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong won the toss and decided to bat first and set a competitive target. However, Van Beek had other plans as the 28-year-old dismissed batters Nizakat Khan, Scott McKenchie and Ehsan khan to pick up the hat-trick in the eighteenth over. 

In doing so, van Beek became the 33rd bowler to pick up a hat-trick in T20Is. He joined the likes of Brett Lee, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan, Jason Holder, Mohammad Hasnain and others on the elite list.

Hong Kong's opening batter, Nizakat Khan, was looking in great form as he scored a half-century. Nizakat scored 60 runs off 55 deliveries, an innings laced with seven boundaries.

During the powerplay, the youngster also managed to get the prized wicket of Hong Kong's star batter, Aizaz Khan. The dismissal of Aizaz early on in the innings pushed the batting side onto the back foot.

Van Beek finished with decent bowling figures of 4-0-27-4 and helped the Dutch team bowl Hong Kong out for a paltry 116 in 18.1 overs.

The Netherlands defeated Hong Kong on the back of van Beek's impressive spell by seven wickets at the Queens sports club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. 

The Dutch team chased the target down in 13.2 overs with 40 balls left. 

Opening batters Max O'Dowd and Bas de Leede scored 45 and 36*, respectively, to take the Dutch team over the finish line. Meanwhile, veteran players Stephen Myburgh and Tom Cooper got out cheaply.

The Netherlands are next set to lock horns with Uganda on Thursday, July 14, in Bulawayo.