#OTD in 2019: Mohammed Shami became the second Indian to take a hat-trick in ODI World Cup

On this day in 2019, the fast bowler Mohammed Shami claimed a hattrick against Afghanistan in the World Cup. The fast bowler became the second Indian player to achieve this unique ODI World Cup feat. Chetan Sharma was the first to take a hattrick in the 1987 World Cup. 

In the 2015 World Cup, the Amroha-born picked up 17 wickets and helped India reach the semi-finals. 

However, Shami underwent surgeries, lost his annual contract and was involved in an alleged domestic violence case involving his wife. The Indian international needed an eye-catching come back to prove his mettle in international cricket. 

After doing well in 12 consecutive Test matches, he was picked up for the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand, wherein he scalped 14 wickets in seven appearances. These performances earned him a place in the ODI World Cup squad. 

The Afghanistan clash was Shami's first opportunity in the tournament after Bhuvneshwar Kumar was ruled out for two-three games due to a hamstring injury. 

India batted first and put a score of 224 on the board, with the highest contribution of 67 coming from the captain, Virat Kohli. Kedar Jadav chipped in with a handy 52 as well. For Afghanistan, Gulbadin Naib and Mohammad Nabi scalped two wickets each. 

In the seventh over of Afghanistan's innings, Hazratullah Zazai (10) tried to whack Shami towards the deep mid-wicket area but was bowled after being beaten by the pace.

In the middle overs, Rahmat Shah (36) and Mohammad Nabi did well to keep the score ticking.

A late flourish from the experienced Nabi brought Afghans close to Team India's total. 

With 12 needed off four, Shami bowled a searing yorker, which the 37-year-old attempted to hit over the bowler's head. However, the ball went straight to Hardik Pandya, the fielder at long-on, ending Nabi's innings of 52 from 55 balls. 

The subsequent ball witnessed Aftab Alam missing a straight good-length ball and getting clean bowled. In the following delivery, Shami completed his hattrick with a sensational yorker at a brisk pace, which breached the defence of Mujeeb Ur Rehman. 

With this wicket's fall, Afghanistan were dismissed for 213 and India won the match by 11 runs. 

In four matches of the 2019 World Cup, Shami picked up 14 wickets at an economy of 5.48, establishing himself as a driving force behind India reaching the penultimate stage.