Lasith Malinga joins two hat trick club

Lasith Malinga became the fourth bowler to perform two hat-tricks in one day internationals and first to do so in World Cup match.

The right arm fast bowler from Galle achieved this feat against Kenya at at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Tuesday (March 1).

Lasith Malinga’s hat trick started in the 42nd over of the match. Tanmay Mishra  became the first victim of Malinga’s hat-trick after missing a full delivery on leg stump to fall for a 13-ball duck. It was the final ball of the over, and Lasith Malinga gave Peter Ongondo the warmest welcome possible to the tournament in the first ball of his next – a yorker that uprooted middle. The staggered dismissals meant many in the crowd weren’t aware that Lasith Malinga was on a hat-trick. He steamed in and middle stump was dismantled again next ball, the clueless batsman this time was Shem Ngoche.

Lasith Malinga’s fist hat trick came against South Africa at Providence on March 28,2003. He took four wicket in four balls in this match.

Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq and Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas are the only three bowlers to perform two hat tricks in limited overs international cricket before Lasith Malinga.

Lasith Malinga’s  hat trick was the 29th in 3113 one day internationals.  It was the third hat-trick in Sri Lanka and second against Kenya

Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Saqlain Mushtaq and Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas are the only three bowlers to perform two hat tricks in limited overs international cricket before Lasith Malinga.

Pakistan’s Jalaluddin, Aaqib Javed, Waqar Younis and Mohammed Sami, Australian Bruce Reid, Anthony Stuart and Brett Lee, India’s Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev, England’s James Anderson Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff, New Zealand’s Danny Morrison and Shane Bond, Zimbabwean Eddo Brandes, South African Charl Langeveldt, Bangladesh’s Shahadat Hossain and West Indian Jerome Taylor and Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof are the other bowlers to achieve this feat once each.

Chetan Sharma (India), Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka), Brett Lee (Australia) and Kemar Roach (West Indies) perfored hat tricks in World Cup.

** Lasith Malinga recorded his best bowling performance in one day internationals by taking six for 38. It was second best bowling performance by a Sri Lankan bowler in World Cup after Chaminda Vaas’ six for 25 against Bangladesh at Pietermaritzburg on February 14, 2003. Lasith Malinga’s previous best in limited overs international cricket was five for 34 against Pakistan at Dambulla on June 15,2010.

Sachin to equal Javed’s record

Sachin Tendulkar equals Javed Miandad’s record of most World Cup tournament after playing against Bangladesh in the opening match of the 10th World Cup against Bangladesh at Mirpur, Dhaka on February 19.

It will be Sachin Tendulkar’s 37th match in sixth World Cup tournaments. He first played in World Cup in 1992 in Australia and New Zraland. Pakistan’s Javed Miandad who played 33 matches in first six World Cup between 1975 and 1996 is the only player to appear in first six edition of this mega event.

Master blater also became the most capped player in one day internationals after playing in the opening match. Sachin Tendulkar overtakes Sri Lankan Santh Jayasuriya who played 444 one day internationals between 1989 and 2010.

It will be first World Cip for 117 players out of 210 in 14 participating teams. Canada have the highest number of new players. Canadia’s 12 players will play for the first time in the World Cup followed by 11 from South Africaand 10 from West Indies.

Fifty seven players will appear for the second time while it will be third World Cup for the 24 players.

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori, Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene, Holland’s Bas Zuiderent and Kenya’s James Kamande will participate for the fourth time while South African Jacques Kallis, Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan, West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Australian Ricky Ponting and Kenya’s Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo will play for the fifth time in this mega event.

Shahid Afridi’s joint fifth fastest half century

Shahid Afridi equalled New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum’s record of fastest half century on New Zealand soil by reaching his fifty off kust 19 balls with two fours and five sixes during his 65-run knock at AMI Stadium, Christchurch on Saturday (January 29).

It was joint fifth fastest 50 in one day internationals and third fastest by a Pakistani. Shahid Afridi scored both fastest half centuries for Pakistan. After making 50 off 18 balls during his fastest ever century in one day internationals against Sri Lanka at Nairobi on October 4,1996, Pakistani skipper went to score 50 off same number of balls during his unbeaten 55-run knock against Holland at Colombo on September 21,2002.

** Mohammed Hafiz scored his maiden hundred in 61st innings of as many matches by making 115 off 144 balls with 12 fours and two sixes. It was 17th century for Pakistan against New Zealand in one day internationals and fourth against New Zealand in New Zealand. Mohammed Hafiz’s previous highest was 92 against West Indies at Karachi on December 16,2006. Mohammed Hafiz’s 50-plus knock is lucky for Pakistan. Pakistan have lost only once, against South Africa at Dubai on November 8,2010, in eight 50-plus knocks.

** Pakistan recorded their second highest total against New Zealand in New Zealand by making 293 for seven in 50 overs. It was Pakistan’s fourth highest against New Zealand in one day internationals. Their highest against New Zealand in New Zealand is 303 in 49.3 oves at Wellington on Janaury 17, 2004.

** New Zealand became the team to play 600 or more limited overs international matches. The third match of the six-one day international match series against Pakistan at AMI Stadium, Christchurch on Saturday (January 29) was New Zealand’s 600th match in limited overs international cricket.

India (764 matches), Australia (755 matches), Pakistan (731 matches)West Indies (637 matches) and Sri Lanka (615 matches) are the other teams to play 600 or more one day internationals before New Zealand.

Vettori joins 500-four club for New Zealand

Daniel Vettori became the fifth New Zealand batsman and 89th batsman overall to hit four hundred or more fours in Test cricket.

The left hand batsman reached this milestone by hitting first four off Wahab Riaz during his unbeaten 38-run knock on the opening day of the second Test match against Pakistan at Basin Reserve, Wellington on Saturday (January 15). It was 158th innings of his 104th Test matches.

The New Zealand skipper hit 285 fours and nine sixes in 78 innings of 53 Test matches at home while he smashed 218 fours and six sixes in 82 innings of 52 Test matches outside New Zealand.

Stephen Fleming (917 fours in 189 innings of 111 Test matches), Martin Crowe (659 fours in 131 innings of 77 Test matches), John Wright (630 fours in 148 innings of 82 Test matches) and Nathan Astle (612 fours in 137 innings of 81 Test matches) are the other New Zealand batsmen to hit 500 or more fours before Daniel Vettori.

** Adnam Akmal became the fourth Pakistani wicket-keeper on five occasion to take five catches in an innings against New Zealand in Tests. Wasim Bari who shared the world record of most dismissals in an innings with England’s Bob Taylor, New Zealand’s Ian Smith and West Indian Ridley Jacobs, was the first Pakistani wicket-keeper achieve this feat. He took seven catches at Auckland in 1978-79. Saleem Yousuf who took five catches at Faisalabad in 1990-91 was the second Pakistan to do so. Rashid Latif is the only Pakistani wicket-keeper who dismissed five New Zealand batsmen on two occasions. He did the same for the first time at Auckland in 1993-94 and second time at Christchuch in 1995-96.

Adnam Akmal’s previous best keeping performance in an innings was three catches against South Africa at Abu Dhabi in 2010-11.

** Jesse Ryder received his second successive first ball duck against Pakistan. He was also out for a duck in the first innings of the first Test match. It was Jesse Ryder’s third duck in 28 innings of 16 Test matches.

Rahul Dravid-first to take 200 catches in Tests

Rahul Dravid became the first player, other than wicket-keeprs, to take 200 catches in Test cricket.

The former Indian skipper achieved his feat, in his 149th Test match, by holding Dale Steyn off Harbhajan Singh on the second day of the second Test match at Kingsmead, Durban on Monday (December 27).

Rahul Dravid who made his debut against England at Lord’s in 1996, took 14 years and 191 days to reached this milestone.

Australian Justin Langer has the dubious distinction of being caught most often by Rahul Dravid, six times in 15 matches, following by another Australian Ricky Ponting, five times in 26 matches. West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan, England’s Mark Butcher, Zimbabwean Alistair Campbel and Guy Whittal have been caught by this fielder on four occasions each.

On Anil Kumble’s bowling, Rahul Dravid took 55 catches in 107 Tests while he hold 50 catches off Harbhajan Singh. Twenty catches were taken on Javagal Srinath’s bowling.

Rahul Dravid caught 95 batsmen in 67 Test matches at home while he claimed 105 catches in 82 Test matches outside India.

Abraham De Villiers Scores Fastest Century for South Africa In Tests

Abraham de Villiers scored the fastest century in terms of balls for South Africa in Test cricket by reaching 100 off 75 balls during his 129-run knock on the third day of the first Test match against India at Super Sport Park ,Centurion on Saturday (December 18).

It was second fastest century in South Africa and 10th fastest in Test cricket. Jack Gregory’s 67-ball hundred against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1921-22 is the fastest century on South Afircan soil.

Denis Lindsay who completed his century off 95 balls during his 131-run knock against Australia at Johannesburg in 1966-67 held the previous record of fastest century for South Africa in terms of balls while Jimmy Sinclair’s 80-minute century against Australia at Cape Town in 1902-03 is the fastest for South Africa in terms of minutes.

West Indian Vivian Richards holds the record of fastest century in terms of balls in Test cricket. He completed his century off just 56 balls during his unbeaten 110-run knock against England at St John’s in 1985-86.

The West Indian skipper reached his century off 79 balls during 105-run knock against England at The Oval in 2004 which was his previous fastest century in Test matches.

The record of fastest century in terms of time is held by Australian Jack Gregory who completed his century in 70 balls during his 119-run knock against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1921-22.

New Zealand’s fourth highest against India

New Zealand recorded their fourth highest total against India in limited overs international cricket by making 315 for seven in 50 overs in the fourth match of the five-match series against India at Karnataka State Cricket Association Ground, Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on Tuesday (December 7).

It was New Zealand’s third highest total against India in India after 349 for nine in 50 overs at Rajkot on November 5,1999 and 348 for eight in 50 overs at Nagpur on November 26,1995.

New Zealand’s total was joint sixth highest without a century in limited over international cricket. It was first time when New Zealand crossed the 300-run mark without making a century against India in one day internationals.

** James Franklin recorded his highest score in limited overs international cricket by making an unbeaten 98 off 69 balls with 12 fours and three sixes. His previous highest was an unbeaten 72 in the previous match at Vadodara.

** Yusuf Pathan recorded his best bowling performance in limited overs internationals by taking three for 49 in nine overs. His previous best was three for 56 in eight overs against West Indies at Kingston on June 26,2009.

** The 64-run undefeated stand for the eighth wicket between James Franklin and Nathan McCullum was the second best stand for this wicket position for New Zealand against India in one day internationals. The two batsmen put on 94 runs for the eight wickets in the previous match which is the best for this wicket for New Zealand.

** Virat Kohli received his maiden duck in fifth innings of as many matches against New Zealand. It was his third duck in 36th innings of 39th one day international match.

** Parthiv Patel made a comeback to Indian team after six years and 134 days. He played his last one day international against Sri Lanka at Colombo on July 27,2004. The left hand batsman scored his maiden half century (53) in the 11th innings of 15th one day international matches. His previous highest was 28 against Australia at Sydney on January 22,2004.

Peter Siddle Joins The Hat-Trick Club In Tests

Peter Siddle became the ninth Australian and 35th bowler overall to claim a hat trick in Test cricket.

The right arm fast medium bowler from Traralgon achieved this feat on his 26th birthday against England at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane on Thursday (November 25).

Peter Siddle’s moment of glory came in the final session. He was recalled to the attack and in his second over back persuaded Alastair Cook to push outside off and edge to first slip. That was followed by a full, fast delivery that Matt Prior barely had time register and the hat-trick ball was again homing in on the stumps but instead struck Stuart Broad’s boot.

Peter Siddle’s hat-trick was the 11th by an Australian bowler and the second at the Gabba after Courtney Walsh’s hat-trick in 1988-89. It is also the first by an Australian bowler since Glenn McGrath’s effort at Perth in 2000-01

Peter Siddle’s hat trick was 38th in Test cricket. Australian Thomas James Matthews and Hugh Trumble alongwith Pakistan’s Wasim Akram are the only three bowlers to performed this feat twice.

The list now includes 11 Englishmen, nine Australians, four West Indians, three Pakistani, two bowlers each from New Zealand and India and one bowler each from South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

The first bowler to perform the hat-trick in Test cricket was Australian, Frederick Robert Spofforth who dismissed three in a row in his six for 48 against England at Melbourne in 1878-79. Spofforth’s victims in the hat-trick were V.Royle, F.Mackinnon and T.Emmett.

India’s biggest win over Kiwis in Tests

India recorded their biggest victory over New Zealand by winning the third and final Test match by an innings and 198 runs on the fourth day at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur on Tuesday (November 23).

It was India’s third biggest win in Test match cricket after an innings and 239 runs victory against Bangladesh at Mirpur, Dhaka in 2006-07 and an innings and 219 runs win over Australia at Kolkata in 1997-98.

India’s previous biggest win against New Zealand was an innings and 109 runs at Chennai in 1955-56.

The defeat was New Zealand’s fifth heaviest after an innings and 324 runs defeat against Pakistan at Lahore in 2001-02, an innings and 322 runs defeat against West Indies at Wellington in 1994-95 and an innings and 222 runs defeat against Australia at Hobart in 1993-94.

** With this win, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team won the three Test series 1-0. It was India’s ninth series win in 17 series against New Zealand. India have not lost a single series since the 2-1 result in Sri Lanka in 2008.

** By dismissing New Zealand wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins, Harbhajan Singh went past West Indian Malcolm Marshall’s tally of 376 wickets and is now 13th on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers. He has 258 wickets in home Tests, which puts him fifth on the list of bowlers with most wickets in home Tests. Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan took 493 wickets in 73 Test matches at home while Shane Warne claimed 319 wickets in 69 Tests in Australia. The 350 of Anil Kumble’s 619 wickets came in 63 Test matches in India while Australia Glenn McGrath dismissed 289 batsmen in 66 Test matches at home.

** Chris Martin received maiden duck in seven innings of six Test matches against India. It was his 29th duck in 85th innings of 59th Test match. Only Courtney Walsh (West Indies-43 ducks in 185 innings of 132 Tests), Glenn McGrath (Australia-35 ducks in 138 innings of 124 Tests), Shane Warne (Austrlaia-34 ducks in 199 innings of 145 Tests) and Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka-33 ducks in 164 innings of 133 Tests) got more ducks than Chris Martin in Tests.

** Martin Guptill also received his maiden duck against India in nine innings of five Test matches. It was his third duck in 24 innings of 13 Test matches and first golden duck, out on the first ball.

** Suresh Raina recorded his best bowling performance in Tests by taking two wickets for one run in two overs. His previous best was two for 38 against the same opponent in the previous Test match at Hyderabad.

Rahul Dravid Joins The Elite Club

Rahul Dravid became the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and fifth batsman overall to make 90-fifty plus knocks in Test cricket.

The right hand top order batsman achieved this feat by making an unbeaten on the second day of the third and final Test match against New Zealand at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur on Sunday (November 21).

The Wall batted in 253 innings of 147 Test matches to reach this milestone. He scored 30 hundreds and 60 fifties.

Sachin Tendulkar (India-107 fifty plus scores in 284 innings of 174 Tests), Ricky Ponting (Australia-94 fifty plus scores in 251 innings of 148 Tests), Jacques Kallis (South Africa- 91 fifty plus scores in 240 innings of 142 Tests) and Allan Border (Australia-90 fifty pluse scores in 265 innings of 156 Tests) were the other batsman to achieve this feat before Rahul Dravid.

** Ishant Sharma recorded his best bowling performance against New Zealand by taking four for 43. It was his second best bowling performance in Tests after five for 118 against Pakistan at Bangalore in 2007-08. Ishant Sharma’s previous best bowling against New Zealand was four for 72 at Hamilton in 2008-09.

** Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag’s 113-run stand was the 11th century stand for the opening wicket for India against New Zealand in Tests. It was ninth century stand between the two batsmen.

** Danile Vettori conceded over 101 runs in 30 overs. It was eighth instance when he conceded over 100 runs against India and 32nd time overall.

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