Pat Cummins’ brilliant performance against Afghanistan at the Super 8 stage made him the first player in cricket history to take consecutive hat-tricks in T20 World Cups. Cummins took three consecutive wickets against Bangladesh in the opening match of the Super 8s, becoming just the second Australian to take a hat-trick in a T20 World Cup.
After Afghanistan got off to a good start against Australia, Adam Zampa and Cummins again stormed through the line-up as their opponents looked to increase their scoring rate and, to the shock of the cricketing world, Cummins became the first bowler in history to take a hat-trick in two consecutive matches.
Pat Cummins (pictured) became the first player in cricket history to score consecutive hat-tricks in T20 World Cups. (Image: Getty Images/Twitter)
With Zampa twice quickly out, Cummins came on for 18 and all-rounder Rashid Khan found Tim David with the last ball of the over to take the dangerous wicket of Rashid Khan. In the 20th over, Cummins found David and took the lead with the wicket of Karim Janat.
And just like he did against Bangladesh, Cummins took a hat-trick in just two overs. The 30-year-old, like Khan, got out Glenn Maxwell and then Gulbuddin Naib. Against Bangladesh, Cummins remained calm as he celebrated his hat-trick because the bowler was unaware he had achieved the feat until it was flashed on the big screen.
Cummins became more aware of the ball that was his hat-trick against Afghanistan and celebrated with more vigour. However, Maxwell did not realise that Cummins had taken a hat-trick and appeared stunned during the celebrations. Even more astonishingly, David Warner dropped a catch off the very next ball, nearly taking Cummins’ fourth consecutive wicket.
After the innings, Cummins admitted it was incredible to have two hat-tricks in two matches despite having made so many appearances for his country. “I remember this game,” Cummins joked, alluding to his reaction when he didn’t know he had bagged a hat-trick in the previous game against Bangladesh.
“I’ve played many hundreds for Australia and this is the second in a row,” said Cummins, who finished with 3-28 from his four overs on a bowler-friendly wicket. Cricket fans went wild for the Australian bowler who has written a special piece of cricket history.
After a 13-year international career in which he never scored a hat-trick, he bagged two in the space of three nights. #T20WorldCupIt’s Pat Cummins.
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) June 23, 2024
hat trick!
Cummins makes it a habit, so what the hell can’t you do, Pat?
It’s totally crazy. It’s insane.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) June 23, 2024
Pat Cummins will be taking a hat-trick in the next match against India. #T20WorldCup
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) June 23, 2024
Australia struggles against Afghanistan in World Cup
Australia missed a number of chances in the field against Afghanistan in their Super Eights match, leaving Cummins frustrated after the end of the innings. “I thought they batted well, but I thought we were a bit short on fielding. Overall our bowling was decent but it wasn’t our best day in the field,” Cummins said in an interview after the end of the innings.
Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh were both early outs with Australia chasing 148. David Warner struggled through five overs before eventually hitting a ball straight into the sky and being dismissed after just three runs from eight balls.
Pat Cummins (centre) celebrates after taking his second hat-trick in the T20 World Cup.
