Jalal-ud-Din’s Hat-Trick: The First in ODI History
Jalal-ud-Din’s Historic Hat-Trick: A Landmark in ODI Cricket
In the annals of One-Day International (ODI) cricket, the name Jalal-ud-Din stands tall as the pioneer who etched his name into history with the first-ever hat-trick. This remarkable feat occurred in 1982 during a match against Australia at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan, after being put into bat, set a competitive target of 229/6, with Mohsin Khan’s magnificent century (104 off 101 balls) anchoring the innings. As Australia embarked on their chase, it was Jalal-ud-Din’s heroics with the ball that turned the tide in Pakistan’s favor.
In a pivotal over, the right-arm medium-pacer unleashed a devastating spell, dismissing Rod Marsh (1), Bruce Yardley (0), and Geoff Lawson (0) on consecutive deliveries. He bowled Marsh, caught Yardley behind with the help of wicketkeeper Wasim Bari, and then rattled Lawson’s stumps to complete the historic hat-trick.
Jalal-ud-Din’s hat-trick came at a crucial juncture, reducing Australia from 127 for 6 to 127 for 9, effectively ending their hopes of chasing down the target. Pakistan eventually emerged victorious by 59 runs.
Despite Jalal-ud-Din’s historic achievement, it was Mohsin Khan who was named Player of the Match for his brilliant century. However, Jalal-ud-Din’s hat-trick remains a landmark in ODI cricket, showcasing how a single over can alter the course of a game.