Hat-tricks in first-class cricket are not commonplace at the best of times, but today in New Zealand's Plunket Shield two have fallen in the same hour at opposite ends of the country.
New Zealand Cricket official statistician Francis Payne confirms that it is the first time in the long history of the competition — the Plunket Shield was first contested in 1906/07 — that the feat has occurred twice in one day, let alone within minutes of each other.
Wellington Firebird Logan van Beek claimed the first hat-trick in the fast-moving game at Hagley Oval, against his former side in Christchurch, moving the ball off the seam to bowl Chad Bowes then enticing an edge from Michael Pollard (caught for a golden duck) at the end of the fourth over. He then claimed Ken McClure as his hat-trick victim with his first ball of the sixth over, a superb nut.
Canterbury v Wellington Firebirds video scorecard
Logan van Beek started the statchat with a hat-trick on his former home ground. PHOTOSPORT (file photo)
Van Beek flew to figures of 5-33 as the Firebirds rolled Canterbury for 53 in their second innings, in just 18.4 overs. It was Canterbury's 16th lowest tally in its long Plunket Shield record and its lowest in the competition since 1992/93.
At Auckland's Eden Park Outer Oval, Matt McEwan was not to be outdone. McEwan also claimed a first-class hat-trick, again a split one across two of his overs, and his effort was also the first ever at either of the Eden Park ovals, says Payne.
Auckland Aces v Northern Districts video scorecard
Shortly before lunch, McEwan claimed Northern Districts' Dean Brownlie caught behind with the final ball of his eighth, in his first spell in the innings, then added two further big wickets with BJ Watling (caught) and Daryl Mitchell (caught behind) in the first two balls of his ninth over to take him to figures of 3-17, both batsmen departing for golden ducks.
Woah! Two hat-tricks in 30 minutes of #PlunketShield action. Thanks for saving your best bowling for my lunch break @loganvanbeek and Matt McEwan.@BLACKCAPS @wgtnfirebirds @aucklandcricket
— Iain Butler (@IainButlerNZ) March 2, 2018
ND went to lunch at 95 for five.
Van Beek's was the 42nd and McEwan's the 43rd hat-trick in New Zealand's overall first-class history, the majority of which (30) have occurred in the Plunket Shield. Central Stag Blair Tickner also claimed a first-class hat-trick this season, against the Wellington Firebirds at Saxton Oval in Nelson. It is only the second instance of three Plunket Shield hat-tricks in one summer. No bowler in New Zealand has claimed more than one in his career.
