Analysing the hat – trick and how it was done as well as the impact. The field choices, the deliveries, the special factors in those deliveries and more…
In 2021, Curtis Campher took 4 wickets in 4 deliveries. In 2022, his fellow mate Josh Little has taken a hat – trick in a Super 12 match against 2021’s runners – up and the first semi – finalists of the 2022 edition – New Zealand which had its first victim in the form of the returning to form Kiwi captain Kane Williamson. What makes the hat – trick even more special and unique is that it includes two LBWs which is a very rare way of getting a hat – trick and also hard to execute in any format. An express delivery, a brilliant fielding change, two LBWs, and a hat – trick is how it all happened i/n 3 deliveries in the second last over they bowled in the final Super 12 match for the Irish!
Josh Little has been fiery from his first delivery itself and was very disciplined while bowling. His line was pure and straight with a major number of his deliveries targeting and successfully being in the line of the stumps which enabled him to keep runs low in the early phase as he was one of the bowlers to bowl in the powerplay. In his 3rd over, he was taken for some runs amid a Kiwi smash as Willaimson had finally been able to play long and free his arms after settling down. Now comes the 19th over of the innings with New Zealand looking to set as high a total as possible for Ireland to chase and having 7 wickets in hand.
OVER 18.2 – WILLIAMSON (WICKET 1)
Williamson was looking to hit boundaries as much as possible and was making good contact. On many of his shots he looked to keep the bowl down even while slogging it, if it was in the direction of a fielder. On the previous delivery, Mitchell had taken a single by hitting towards the Mid – Wicket region. With Williamson now on strike, a crucial fielding change was made – Jersey no. 64 Josh Delany was brought squarer from the Long – On region to the Deep Mid – Wicket to Square Leg region in the deep. This would cover a pull shot from Williamson which he had been good with on the day with his strong play on the leg – side playing through the gaps. For a wicket, a mishit was needed on that boundary given the dimensions.
Little went for a short or more of a back of length ball and executed it exactly how it needed to be with it being in line presenting a good opportunity to pull the ball. A bit high, not well timed and Delany ran towards his right and it fell right into his hands while he was still in motion, and he held onto it. That was wicket number 1. A big wicket for the Irish.
OVER 18.3 – NEESHAM (WICKET 2)
They had already shown some brilliant field change and execution. Now it was time for a left – hander which was the whole field switching as the same leg – side field was set for him also. The one differ3ence would be that he would face the ball from over i.e. right in front of him into him. The ball was bowled. Neesham had an open offside to hit towards. A length delivery and it did not bounce a lot which meant it stayed in line to hit the stumps. Neesham tried to make some space and then pushing it towards the as the 141 Kmph ball rushed into him. He got out of shape, and the ball hit the pads for an easy decision that was reviewed since there wasn’t much of the innings left and it gave a clear line of how he was out LBW.
The pace on that delivery made it one f the fastest of the innings and that was faced by Neesham on his first delivery of the day. That was a brilliantly executed delivery that just had to get that wicket.
OVER 18.4 – SANTNER (WICKET 3)
Santner was to be the batter to face the Hat – Trick Delivery and he never looked kie a player who was joyed by the chance of getting to bat. He wanted to bowl later. He wasnted to just watch his fellow mats flourish right now it seemed. But he did walk out following the batting order. Another left – hander. Mitchell still on the other hand. Even if on the 18.2 delivery, they would have completed a single, as per the MCC Laws that came into force in October, Mitchell would not have gotten strike.
A simple straight delivery following a straight path from stump to stump, passing through the bat which was still on its way down as Santner looked to simply defend on the backfoot. It went straight, the delivery, again low and hit the pad in front of the mid – stump and bang it was a wicket for a successful hat – trick.
A brilliant hat-trick which potentially saved about 10 runs from being scored even though it did not make a difference in the match result!
| LITTLE GOES BIG|
spielens 