Mohammad Nawaz becomes third Pakistan player with T20I hat-trick: Stats
What's the story
Pakistan spinner Mohammad Nawaz scripted history with an incredible hat-trick against Afghanistan in the UAE T20I Tri-Series final. Nawaz took four wickets within his first 10 deliveries as the Afghans attempted to chase 142 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Notably, the spinner has become the third Pakistan player to take a hat-trick in T20I cricket. He took a fifer as Pakistan won by 75 runs.
Spell
How Nawaz completed his hat-trick
Despite losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran took Afghanistan toward 30 in the Powerplay. To exploit the turning track, Pakistan introduced Nawaz in the sixth over. And he responded instantly by dismissing Darwish Rasooli (0) and Azmatullah Omarzai (0) on the over's last two balls. Nawaz removed Ibrahim Zadran (9) on the first ball of his next over, thereby completing his hat-trick.
Information
Nawaz joins these names
As per ESPNcricinfo, Nawaz became the third Pakistan player to complete a hat-trick in T20I cricket. He joined the likes of Faheem Ashraf (vs Sri Lanka, 2017) and Mohammad Hasnain (vs Sri Lanka, 2019).
Wickets
Nawaz shines with fifer
After dismissing Zadran, Nawaz got rid of Karim Janat (0) in the same over. As mentioned, the Pakistan spinner claimed his first four wickets within 10 balls. Nawaz finally dismissed Rashid Khan, the top-scorer for Afghanistan, to complete his five-wicket haul. The Pakistan spinner, who also bowled a wicket maiden, returned figures worth 4-1-19-5. His all-round exploits helped Pakistan win the trophy.
Record
Maiden T20I fifer for Nawaz
Nawaz scalped his maiden five-wicket haul in T20I cricket. As per Cricbuzz, he became the fifth Pakistan player with a T20I fifer, after Sufiyan Muqeem, Umar Gul, Imad Wasim, and Hasan Ali. Overall, the all-rounder now has 70 wickets from 71 T20Is at an average of 22.55. His tally includes an economy rate of 7.26. Overall, Nawaz has over 230 T20 wickets.