Firstclass hattricks within hour a rare feat

WHO said hattricks are rare?

Wellington bowler Logan van Beek and Auckland seamer Matt McEwan claimed a firstclass hattrick within an hour of each other.

Van Beek struck first. He bowled Canterbury’s Chad Bowes and then nicked out Michael Pollard with the last ball of the fourth over.

He completed the feat with the first ball of his next over when Ken McClure got a feather through to the keeper.

Canterbury collapsed to be all out for 53 in its second innings at Hagley Oval yesterday. Wellington was left chasing a paltry target of 44 and took just 7.2 overs to wrap up the fourday game with a 10wicket win midway through day two, and took 16 points for its efforts.

Not long after van Beek’s effort, McEwan claimed three wickets in three balls at Eden Park Outer Oval.

Northern Districts batsmen Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling and Daryl Mitchell were all caught behind.

It was the first time two first class hattricks have happened on the same day in New Zealand.

Auckland was 83 for three at stumps on day two and leads by 185 runs.