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#OTD in 1999 | Saqlain Mushtaq became the second player to grab two hat-tricks in ODIs

On this day in 1999, the legendary spinner Saqlain Mushtaq took a hat-trick in the ICC World Cup Super-Six fixture against Zimbabwe at The Oval. He also became the second player after Wasim Akram to secure two hat-tricks in the 50-overs format. His first hat-trick came against Zimbabwe in 1996 at Peshawar. 


The Pakistan team had topped the league stage points table with four wins in five league matches. Ahead of this league match, they had lost their two encounters against India and South Africa.  


The Akram-led side opted to bat first in a crunch game. The likes of Saeed Anwar (103), Wajahatullah Wasti (40), and Shahid Afridi (37) were the key contributors to the team, posting a total of 271 on the board. Heath Streak and Henry Olonga picked two wickets each. 


In reply, the opener Neil Johnson played a fighting knock of 54, but the middle-order failed to contribute in a hefty manner.



With 123/7 in 40 overs, it was certainly a done and dusted affair. But, Mushtaq came to bowl and produced impressive performances, which gave joy to the crowds in the stands and cricket fans back at home as well. 


In the first ball of the over, Olonga charged but missed the ball by a fair margin, and was stumped by Moin Khan. However, the patience of the fast bowler lasted 31 balls, wherein he could score only five runs. 


A similar type of dismissal happened in the subsequent delivery, with Adam Huckle was beaten by the spin and was nowhere close to the ball. 


A total of five fielders were positioned around Pommie Mbangwa for an all-important ball. Mbangwa could not judge the ball, failed to make contact with the bat, and was adjudged LBW. 


This wicket helped Pakistan to win by a significant margin of 148 runs and entered the World Cup semi-finals. In the penultimate stage, they chase down the score of 241 set by New Zealand. However, they emerged as runners-up after losing to Australia. 

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'I'll cherish that for the rest of my life'- Daryl Mitchell on his ton at Lord's

New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell could not decide how to react after fulfilling his childhood dream of scoring a Test hundred at the 'Home of Cricket' Lord's during the 2nd innings of the 1st Test against England last week. He, in his own words, was 'absolutely fizzing' following the culmination of his boyhood dreams, and it's something, he admitted, he'll cherish for the rest of his life. However, the humble cricketer believes that he 'doesn't deserve' to be alongside some of the legends of the game on the Lord's honour board. Speaking to the Telegraph UK, Mitchell opened up about a range of emotions he went through at Lord's last week. He said: "I first wanted to keep it relaxed, like Kane [Williamson] and seem as if I was taking it in my stride. But I couldn't control myself. I was absolutely fizzing. I just let go. That's my personality. [Scoring a hundred] at Lord's is something I've always dreamed about." "I'll cherish that for the rest of my life. I've got a pic with my family that we'll frame. My place in the dressing room was just under the honours board with some of the greats of the game. I don't think I deserve to be there with them. But it's something I'll savour forever." Having been called up to the starting XI following an untimely injury to Henry Nicholls ahead of the Lord's Test, Mitchell showcased his skills, technique and temperament to the hilt against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad after the BlackCaps were reduced to 4-56 in the 2nd innings. En route to his 2nd Test hundred, Mitchell added a priceless 195 runs for the 5th wicket with Tom Blundell. Although New Zealand eventually went on to lose the game courtesy of a brilliant spell from Broad and an unbeaten century from Joe Root, his innings was a real positive sign for the visitors as they looked to plug the gap in their middle-order post the retirement of Ross Taylor. And, just to prove that his innings at Lord's wasn't a fluke, Mitchell has backed it up with another priceless ton in the first innings of the ongoing Nottingham Test courtesy of yet another monumental stand with Blundell, who also scored a hundred after having agonisingly missed out at Lord's.

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SL v AUS 2022 | Kasun Rajitha and Matheesha Pathirana ruled out from the 3rd T20I

Sri Lankan fast-bowling duo of Kasun Rajitha and Matheesha Pathirana have been ruled out of the final T20I against Australia due to their respective injuries. The Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) confirmed the development on the morning of the final T20I of the series through a tweet. The statement revealed that both players suffered their respective injuries during the training session. While Rajitha has suffered a left-hip injury, Pathirana is being troubled by an injury in his right elbow. The national selection committee has named Asitha Fernando and Pramod Madushan as replacements for Rajitha and Pathirana, respectively. "Injuries - Kasun Rajitha and Matheesha Pathirana have suffered injuries, while training and will not take further part in the T20I series," the statement stated. "Rajitha has suffered an injury on his 'Left Hip,' whilst Pathirana has suffered an injury on his 'Right Elbow’.” The statement further added: "In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee made the following replacements to the T20I squad, in place of the two injured players. 1. Asitha Fernando comes in place of Kasun Rajitha 2.Pramod Madushan comes in place of Matheesha Pathirana" That said, it is unlikely to affect Lanka's starting XI as the duo did not find a place in the team for the first two games. Meanwhile, the home side will look to bounce back after suffering consecutive humiliating defeats against the world champions and end the series on a high. As has been the case in the last 5-6 years, the Lankan batting has proved to be their nemesis in this series as well. The middle-order has failed to capitalize on the starts provided by the top-order, paving the way for fatal collapses. In the first game, Sri Lanka collapsed from 100/2 to 128 all-out, while in the last match, they suffered a similar fate as they meandered to a pain-staking 124/9. The final T20I will offer the home side batters a chance to find some much-needed form and confidence as they head into a crucial five-match One-day International series against the Aaron Finch-led unit.