UAE’s Meiyappan takes first hat-trick at T20 World Cup

GEELONG: Karthik Meiyappan of the United Arab Emirates took the first hat-trick of the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia on Tuesday, stunning Sri Lanka in their first-round match in Geelong.

Asian champions Sri Lanka were motoring at 117-2 in the 15th over when the leg-break bowler struck, removing Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka and skipper Dasun Shanaka in successive balls. Rajapaksa was caught in the deep, Asalanka caught behind and Shanaka clean-bowled.

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The 22-year-old became just the fifth bowler to snare a hat-trick at a T20 World Cup and the first for his country.

He ended with figures of 3-19 off his four overs.