Nathan Elis claims hat-trick on debut to restrict Tigers to 127-9

DHAKA —Fast bowler Nathan Elis became the first bowler to claim hat-trick in T20 International cricket on debut as Bangladesh were restricted to 127-9 in the third game of five-match series against Australia at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

Elis who was the 17th bowler overall to bag T20 hat-trick ended with 3-34 in four overs and all of his three wickets came in a row in the last three balls of the Bangladesh’s innings.

Thanks to his effort, Bangladesh who are eying to wrap up the series, couldn’t finish on high.

Captain Mahmudullah Riyad struck 53 ball-52 to be the top scorer of the side.

Elis dismissed Mahmudullah in the fourth ball of the last over to take his first wicket and then he got the better of Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan in the consecutive deliveries to complete his hat-trick.

Riyad struck four fours in his fifth T20 half-century which was crucial to hold together the innings in the slow pitch.

After the game was delayed by 1 hour and 15 minutes, Bangladesh decided to bat first but that decision seemed to backfire when two openers Mohammad Naim and Soumya Sarkar were removed in third over, leaving the side in precarious three for two.

Mahmudullah then joined Shakib to rebuild the innings but after making 26, Shakib was dismissed by leg-spinner Adam Zampa. Riyad then held together the innings as Aussies continued to make inroads, bowling in disciplined line and length.

Afif Hossain was the other notable scorer with 19 while Nurul Hasan Sohan made 11.

Apart from Elis’s three wickets haul, Josh Hazlewood and Zampa bagged two wickets apiece.BSS