#ThisDayThatYear: Slinga Malinga stuns South Africa with a hat-trick

Batting first, Sri Lanka were off to a Shaky start, having lost both the openers early on.

Kumar Sangakkara tried to stitch a stand with skipper Mahela Jayawardene, but the duo was soon removed.

The onus was now on Tillakaratne Dilshan and Russel Arnold, who added 97 runs together.

South Africa blew off the tail quickly to fold Sri Lanka innings on 209.

South Africa's chase was duly powered by captain Graeme Smith (59) and Jacques Kallis (86) following AB de Villiers' early dismissal.

They were cruising towards victory on 160/2 before Muttiah Muralitharan provided Sri Lanka two quick breakthroughs.

Sanath Jayasuriya sent another one packing in the form of Justin Kemp.

South Africa needed mere four runs from six overs ahead of Malinga's miraculous over.

Malinga was into his eighth over wherein Shaun Pollock scored six from the first four balls.

The right-hander cleaned up both Pollock and Andrew Hall with smearing yorkers on remaining two deliveries.

In his next over, Kallis nicked one behind on the very first ball as Malinga completed his hat-trick.

Makhaya Ntini was also uprooted, fetching him a memorable fourth wicket.

Although Robin Peterson stole a four off Malinga to win a nail-biter for South Africa, Malinga's valiant effort became the highlight of the World Cup.

Besides, Malinga repeated this incredible feat 12 years later, this time in a T20I.

He snapped up four in four against New Zealand in the third game, registering a second hat-trick of his T20I career.