World Cup 2019: 5 best hat-tricks in World Cup history

After many one-sided games in the first two weeks of World Cup 2019, the tournament had an excellent third week as games went down to the wire. The World Cup 2019 was expected to produce runs at every ground but it hasn't been the case. But the bowlers have called the shots with West Indies' short ball strategy troubling the likes of Australia and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka stunned pre-tournament favourites England by defending a below-par total of 232. Afghanistan gave India a run for their money as they came very close to beat Virat Kohli's side. Although the pitch was aiding the bowlers, the bowling unit stepped up to compensate a rare batting failure from their colleagues with Mohammed Shami picking up a hat-trick in the final over to seal the deal.

New Zealand has produced two thrilling contests against South Africa and West Indies. After Shami, Trent Boult became the second bowler to take a hat-trick in this WC, as his three toe-crushing yorkers earned him a name in the honours board at the Lord's.

Let's look back at five of the most impressive hattricks in the history of the World Cup.

#5 Chetan Sharma - India Vs New Zealand - 1987 WC

Chetan Sharma picked up the first-ever hat-trick

India's Chetan Sharma was the first player ever to pick a hat-trick in World Cup cricket. The Haryana pacer was doubtful for the quadrennial event with a broken thumb. But captain Kapil Dev insisted the BCCI to pick him in the squad.

Sharma repaid the faith with a hat-trick in the game against New Zealand. His first scalp was Ken Rutherford when his in-swinger hit the middle stump. The fast bowler bowled two straighter ones which disturbed the stumps of Ian Smith and Ewen Chatfield.

His spell restricted NZ to 221 which India chased with 18 overs to spare. India topped the group and qualified for the semi-finals while the Blackcaps were knocked out.

Also see – India vs Sri Lanka head to head stats

#4 Jean-Paul Duminy - South Africa Vs Sri Lanka - 2015 WC

Duminy's spell surprised the Sri Lankans

Despite fielding a strong team in every edition of the World Cup, they have failed to win a single knockout game till 2011. This was a big obstacle for AB de Villiers' side when they took on Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first on a good pitch at Sydney. SL lost the openers with just four runs on board. Tournament's best batsman Kumar Sangakkara steadied the ship along with Angelo Mathews. JP Duminy was brought into the attack ahead of Imran Tahir.

The off-spinner first broke the partnership by dismissing Mathews. He then picked two wickets with two straighter ones to become the first South African to take a World Cup hat-trick. He along with Tahir restricted SL for 133. The Proteas chased it comfortably to win their first ever WC knockout game.

#3 Chaminda Vaas - Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh - 2003 WC

Vaas is the only bowler to take a hat-trick in the first three balls

Sri Lanka took on Bangladesh in the league stage of the 2003 World Cup. It was a bright sunny valentine's day when SL asked their opponents to bat first. The day belonged to Chaminda Vaas and his love affair with swinging deliveries as he made Bangladesh batsmen dance for his tunes.

He was impeccable with the first delivery of the match as his in-swinger hit the top of off-stump to remove Hannan Sarkar. Mohammad Ashraful was his next victim as he scooped ball straight into the hands of the bowler. With the prospect of picking up a hat-trick in the first three deliveries of the match, SL had close-in fielders around the bat.

Vaas bowled a beautiful out-swinger which took the edge and went into the hands of Mahela Jayawardena. Bangladesh never recovered from the hat-trick as they were bundled out for 124.

#2 Brett Lee - Australia Vs Kenya - 2003 WC

Lee's pace was too hot to handle for the Kenyan Batsmen

Brett Lee represented a great attitude for a fast bowler. Running in and bowling fast, not only the balls he bowled was aggressive but also his approach towards the batsman. He displayed it in the space of three balls in the game against Kenya in the 2003 World Cup.

His first victim was Kennedy Otieno as a rising delivery hit the elbow and then went to disturb the timber. The 92.1 mph snorter hit the opener so hard that he suffered a broken elbow. The next delivery was a perfect fast bowlers' delivery to a batsman first up. The fuller length delivery bowled at 95.4 mph took the edge and went into the hands of second slip.

With an increase in speed and confidence, Lee delivered a perfect yorker at 96.6 mph. David Obuya had no answer for the ball as he became the hat-trick victim.

#1 Lasith Malinga - Sri Lanka Vs South Africa - 2007 WC

Malinga exults after picking up his fourth wicket

Chasing a modest total of 210, South Africa was on course for a victory against Sri Lanka. With four runs needed off 32 balls, it seemed the end was a mere formality. But Lasith Malinga had other ideas, as bamboozled the lower-order to make a match out of it.

Shaun Pollock was bowled by a leg-stump yorker for 13. The Sri Lankan then delivered his trademark slower ball to dismiss Andrew Hall for a duck. He came back in the next over to sent back Jacques Kallis for 86. Sri Lanka came back into the game with this hat-trick.

Malinga then came up with the ball of his spell as his fast yorker disturbed the timber of Makhaya Ntini to become the first player to take four wickets in four spells. But it couldn't stop South Africa from winning the game.