Irish bowler Josh Little becomes sixth cricketer to take T20 World Cup hat-trick

Ireland pace bowler Josh Little has joined an illustrious list of cricketers to take a coveted hat-trick in the Men’s T20 World Cup.

Irish bowler Josh Little has joined an illustrious list of cricketers to take a hat-trick in the Men’s T20 World Cup, achieving the rare feat against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval on Friday afternoon.

The 23-year-old claimed three consecutive wickets in the 19th over of New Zealand’s innings, helping restrict the Black Caps to 6/185 from their 20 overs.

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New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was Little’s first victim, caught on the square leg boundary by Gareth Delany for 61.

The left-arm seamer then trapped Jimmy Neesham and Mitchell Santner on the pads, both plumb LBW for a golden duck, to complete the hat-trick.

Little is the second cricketer to take a hat-trick in this year’s T20 World Cup, joining United Arab Emirates spinner Karthik Meiyappan, and the sixth in the competition’s history.

“There was a little bit of tail coming back into those left-handers,” Little said during the innings break.

“Just tried to execute three times in a row.”

Hattrick 💫 .. Little did the huge thing in #T20WorldCup Brilliant stuff ! #NZvIRE

— Reema Malhotra (@ReemaMalhotra8) November 4, 2022

Joshua Little has #T20WorldCup hat-trick!

If anyone deserved this feat in this WC, then it has to be him. What a bowler 👌⭐

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) November 4, 2022

Joshua little is a quality bowler .. I think he will be getting a few franchise contracts .. 👍 #ICCT20WorldCup

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 4, 2022

Little, who finished with 3/22 from four overs on Friday, has represented Ireland in 22 ODIs and 53 T20Is since making his international debut as a teenager in 2016.

He is comfortably Ireland’s highest wicket-taker of the T20 World Cup with 11 scalps at 17.18. Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva is currently the only player with more wickets in the tournament.

Remarkably, Little has taken 7/59 from 11 overs against powerhouse nations England, Australia and New Zealand. 

“We can chase 185,” Little said ahead of the run chase.

“It’s time for another upset in this World Cup.”

Josh Little of Ireland. Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images

Hat-tricks in Men's T20 World Cups

Brett Lee vs BAN, 2007

Curtis Campher vs NED, 2021

Wanindu Hasaranga vs SA, 2021

Kagiso Rabada vs ENG, 2021

Karthik Meiyappan vs SL, 2022

Joshua Little vs NZ, 2022

A surprise upset was certainly on the cards when Irish openers Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie smacked 68 runs from the first eight overs.

But the Irish then lost 5/34 in 39 balls, with Black Caps spinners Ish Sodhi and Santner wreaking havoc on their top-order.

Ireland ultimately fell 35 runs short of the 186-run target as New Zealand secured their third victory of the tournament.

Originally published as Irish bowler Josh Little becomes sixth cricketer to take T20 World Cup hat-trick