An indomitable Rubel Hossain brought down the high flying New Zealand to the earth slamming a brilliant hat-trick that gave Bangladesh a 43-run win in the first ODI as per D/L method at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Rubel became the third Bangladeshi bowler after Shahadat Hossain Rajib and Abdur Razzak to claim the ODI hat-trick. He finished with his career best bowling figure of six for 26 to emulate the Bangladesh’s best bowling figure in an innings. Mashrafe earlier claimed six for 26 against Kenya in 2006 to possess the record.
Shahadat was the first Bangladeshi bowler to make ODI hat-trick in 2006 while Razzak did it in 2010, both the hat-tricks came against Zimbabwe. Rubel overall became the 29th bowler in the world to complete ODI hat-trick which happened 34th times in ODI?history with Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga making it thrice and Pakistan’s Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaque and Lankan Chaminda Vaas getting the accolades twice.
The right handed pacer was the 2nd bowler in the ongoing series to claim hat-trick after Sohag Gazi did it in the 1st Test.
As rain halted the game for 105 minutes, the match was reduced to 33 overs with a revised target of 206 for New Zealand. They were 82 for three before the rain. Bangladesh were earlier all out for 265 in 49.5 overs, their highest ODI total against New Zealand.
They went after Bangladeshi bowlers aggressively after the rain break. With a flurry of sixes and fours, the Kiwis suddenly raised the hope for an unbelievable victory before Rubel appeared in the stage.
In his third over, Rubel demolished the Kiwis hope claiming Corey Anderson (46), skipper McCullum (0) and Neesham (0) to complete his hat-trick. The incident which happened in the 24th over of the innings, tilted the match towards Bangladesh completely. He later completed the victory dismissing the New Zealand’s highest scorer Grant Elliott (71) to spark a huge celebration in the stadium.
-With The Independent input
