India had gone into the match with excessive expectations, and Pathan, identified for his capability to swing the ball each methods, was entrusted with the brand new ball on a pitch that supplied some motion.Pakistan’s openers, Salman Butt and Imran Farhat, confronted the daunting process of navigating via Pathan’s probing deliveries. However what unfolded within the subsequent couple of minutes shocked all the cricketing world.
The First Wicket: The fourth ball of Pathan’s over was a full-length supply that swung in sharply. Salman Butt, deceived by the motion, obtained an inside edge, and the ball flew straight into the secure fingers of Rahul Dravid at first slip.
Irfan Pathan’s Memorable Hat-Trick Towards Pakistan | Pakistan vs India | PCB | MA2A
The Second Wicket: Buoyed by the early success, Pathan ran in with much more power for the very subsequent ball. This time, Younis Khan, Pakistan’s seasoned campaigner, walked in. Pathan unleashed an ideal inswinger that caught Younis off guard, trapping him plumb in entrance. Two wickets in two balls – it was magic unfolding.
The Hat-Trick Ball: With the group shocked and the Indian gamers sensing one thing particular, Pathan ready for the hat-trick ball. Mohammad Yousuf, one other skilled Pakistani batsman, took guard. With ice in his veins, Pathan unleashed one other ripper, a supply that pitched completely in line and jagged again in. Yousuf, utterly outfoxed, was left clueless because the ball sliced via the hole and smashed into the stumps. A hat-trick within the very first over of the match!
The scenes that adopted have been electrical. The Indian workforce erupted in pleasure as Pathan, arms raised in triumph, was swarmed by his teammates. He grew to become solely the second Indian bowler to take a Check hat-trick after Harbhajan Singh, however the first to realize it within the very first over of a match – a file that continues to be probably the most distinctive feats in Check cricket.
Regardless of Pakistan’s eventual victory in that Check, Pathan’s hat-trick grew to become probably the most iconic moments in India-Pakistan cricket historical past, a testomony to his ability and the magic of the sport’s unpredictable nature.
