My hat-trick was unique, says Nuwan Zoysa by Bipin Dani

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Scorecard:	Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka v Australia
Player:	DNT Zoysa
Event:	Australia in Sri Lanka 2016, Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe 1999/00

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DateLine: 5th August 2016

 

Mumbai, Aug. 5 : Nuwan Zoysa, the first Test hat-trick achiever in Sri Lanka believes that though his hat-trick was against the Zimbabwe team, it was an unique one.

 

Speaking exclusively over his mobile from Sri Lanka, the 38-year-old former left-arm fast bowler says, "the importance of my hat-trick can not be devalued because I removed the top order batsmen (Trevor Gripper, Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson) and that too on the very first day of the Test and it was in my very first three deliveries of the match. Zimbabwe team was very strong then".

 

Zoysa had returned from a back injury to play in his eighth Test, and he made full use of a helpful pitch after Sri Lanka won the toss and sent Zimbabwe in to bat (Harare, 1999).

 

Sri Lanka had won the Test, though the Man of the Match award went to T.M.Dilshan, who remained unbeaten with 163 runs in the first innings but was out for zero in the second innings.

 

"I don't want to take away credit from Rangana Herath. Any hat-trick is not only with the luck but it requires skill also".

 

It was Herath's fantastic performance and I feel happy for his hat-trick and his achievement. It was against the strong Australian team. I wish him more success", Zoysha further added.

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2016 Bipin Dani)