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Happy Birthday Lasith Malinga: Relive How He Picked Up 4 Wickets In 4 Balls To Rattle South Africa

Malinga bagged 4 wickets in 4 balls [x] Malinga bagged 4 wickets in 4 balls [x]

Lasith Malinga has arguably been one of the most influential bowlers of the last decade. The slinger action speedster, carved a name for himself towards the late 2000s, with his uncanny action and noodle hairstyle.

However, despite being unique with his action, he was effective, especially in white-ball cricket, and his biggest crowning moment came in the 2007 World Cup against South Africa, where he became the first ball to pick 4 wickets in 4 balls.

Malinga picked 4 wickets in 4 balls to create history

In the match played at Providence Stadium, Geortown, the yorker King showed his class and almost snatched a win from the jaws of defeat. Sri Lanka won the toss and they elected to bat first. However, the decision was regretted as the Lankan side were bundled out for a meagre 209, with Tilakratne Dilshan, the lone warrior, scoring 58 runs.

In reply, South Africa were in cruise control of the chase, before disaster almost struck. The Proteas were 206/5, and with all hopes lost, skipper Mahela Jayawardene gave the ball to Malinga, who almost created magic.


He cleaned up Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall and reduced the team to 206/7. In the next delivery, he got an outside-edge from a well-set Jacques Kallis and took a stunning hat-trick as the Proteas pressed the panic button. The magic wasn't over as he did the unthinkable and knocked over Makhaya Ntini for a duck to achieve history.

Malinga took Sri Lanka on the brink of an impossible win, but the heartbreak took place as they lost the game by just 1 run.

Despite the loss, Malinga etched his name in the history books.