I couldnt believe my luck when I read about it, Chris Gayle had been depositing to all parts, and I had missed it, AGAIN! Now we all know that Gayle is no stranger to making the crowd wonder if they should turn up wearing hardhats, but somehow, every time the Jamaican slogger decides to let loose, I inevitably am tied up with other commitments. Thankfully, I have seen the highlights of it, and as Im sure you all know, it was special, really special. Reaching a ton off 30 balls is just a ridiculous feat, and then continuing to carry his bat to finish on 175* off 66 balls, whilst hitting 13 fours and 17 sixes, it just defies description. Gayles brilliant innings was his eleventh T20 century overall, but undoubtedly his most impressive. This article aims to showcase other feats just as brilliant in the cricketing world, but it wouldnt be fair to let you read on without watching Gayles master class for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xZUQL2oIXA Enjoy that? Yes? Now lets get on with the countdown
5. Lasith Malingas Extended Hat-Trick
With the game seemingly dead against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup, and the South Africans needing a seemingly routine 4 to win from 32 remaining balls, Malinga bowled Shaun Pollock with a slower bowl which seemed like something of a consolation at the time, but no-one could have predicted what was about to happen next. The slingy-action of the Sri Lankan pace bowler accounted for the wickets of Andrew Hall for a duck, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini, to complete an unprecedented 4 wickets in 4 balls, and give Sri Lanka a fighting chance. Although the Proteas went on to win the match by one wicket, the match will always be remembered for Malingas sensational spell.
Why It Was Amazing Taking four wickets in an entire match is considered a good performance for a bowler, so for Malinga to achieve it in four consecutive balls was simply remarkable. A hat-trick (3 wickets in three balls) is also a significant achievement, and bearing in mind Malinga nearly took a wicket with the 5th ball of his remarkable spell, the feat could have been even more sensational, and a match-winning one at that.
Could It Happen Again? Highly unlikely; hat-tricks are rare and Malinga is the only man to go one better in international cricket, so I wouldnt be sat on the edge of your seat waiting for this to happen again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFs4epO9oFk