Kolkata Knight Riders off—spinner Sunil Narine claimed the first hat—trick of this IPL season against Kings XI Punjab at the PCA Stadium here today.
This was the 10th hat—trick of the IPL till now.
Narine claimed the wickets of David Hussey, Azhar Mahmood and Gurkeerat Singh in his three successive deliveries of his second over to leave KXIP reeling at 99 for six in the 15th over.
Australian Hussey went for the cut but the ball bounced more than expected and he got a thick edge. It went to wicketkeeper Manvinder Bisla, who pouched it on his second attempt.
Next ball, Azhar Mahmood offered one of the simplest catches to Narine off his own bowling and the ‘mystery spinner’ accepted it gleefully.
The third was a carrom ball. A flat delivery, pitched around the off stump, that drew Gurkeerat forward but spinned past his defence to knock off his off stump.
List of bowlers who have claimed hat—tricks so far in IPL:
1. Lakshmipathy Balaji (CSK) vs KXIP (2008)
2. Amit Mishra (DD) vs DC (2008)
3. Makhaya Ntini (CSK) vs KKR (2008)
4. Yuvraj Singh (KXIP) vs RCB (2009)
5. Rohit Sharma (DC) vs MI (2009)
6. Yuvraj Singh (KXIP) vs DC (2009)
7. Praveen Kumar (RCB) vs RR (2010)
8. Amit Mishra (DC) vs KXIP (2011)
9. Ajit Chandila (RR) vs PW (2012).