Mohammed Shami has delivered some sensational performances with the ball in international cricket for India. More so, in the One-Day International (ODI) format. Shami, who was born on September 03, 1990 at Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, has thus far represented India in 64 Tests, 101 ODIs and 23 T20Is. The right-arm fast-medium bowler turns 34 on September 03, 2024. As the Indian pacer celebrates his birthday, we take a look back at one of his best performances with the ball in ODIs when he took a hat-trick against Afghanistan in the ICC ODI World Cup 2019. By doing so, he became the second Indian after Chetan Sharma to take a hat-trick in the World Cup. Happy Birthday Mohammad Shami! BCCI Extends Heartfelt Wishes to Fast Bowler As He Turns 34.
Shami ended the match with figures of 4/40 in 9.5 overs but it was his hat-trick towards the end that handed India a win in this close fixture. India, batting first, had managed 224/8 in their quota of 50 overs. So, Afghanistan were not chasing a big total that day. But Shami handed his side an early breakthrough when he removed opener Hazratullah Zazai in the seventh over.
Afghanistan then kept losing wickets at regular intervals but were nearing the target as well. It all went down the wire with Afghanistan requiring 24 runs to win from three overs with three wickets in hand. Mohammad Nabi and Ikram Alikhil were the two Afghan batters at the crease. Nabi was well-set on 43 off 46 balls. Shami was handed the ball in the 48th over and he gave away just three runs, including a leg-bye. So, Afghanistan were left with 21 runs to win from the last two overs. Happy Birthday Mohammad Shami: Fans Wish Star Indian Pacer As He Turns 34.
Jasprit Bumrah bowled the penultimate over and gave away just five runs. The equation for Afghanistan to win the match was 16 runs with Nabi on strike and Shami to bowl. On the very first ball, Nabi smashed Shami down the ground for a four to start on a positive note. The boundary brought the equation down to 12 needed of five balls. On the next ball, Nabi refused a single. But on the third ball, Shami accounted for Nabi who was caught at long-on. This wicket almost sealed the match for India and Shami went on to finish it off in style. On the next two balls, Shami bowled two perfect yorkers to clean up Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. And after 32 years he became the second Indian to clinch a hat-trick in a World Cup match.
Mohammed Shami Hat-Trick Video
India’s run at the ICC World Cup 2019 came to an end with a semi-final defeat against New Zealand. Shami, who played only four matches, finished with 14 wickets averaging average of 13.78 with the ball and had a strike rate of 15.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2024 10:33 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).