Photographs: BCCI
Rajasthan Royals' leg-spinner Pravin Tambe claimed a rare two-ball hat-trick against Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday and became only the second player in the history of Indian Premier League to perform the feat.
The Knight Riders, who lost by 10 runs, had the ignominy of being the first team in the IPL to lose a match after conjuring a 100-run opening partnership during the chase.
Tambe achieved the hat-trick in the 16th over.
His first delivery was adjudged wide, as the googly spun enough to beat an advancing Manish Pandey, who was stumped by Sanju Samson [Kolkata 4-123 (15.1 ov)].
Then, with his first legal delivery, he got Yusuf Pathan (0) [Kolkata 5-123 (15.1 ov)] while Ryan ten Doeschate (0) was done in by a flipper [Kolkata 6-123 (15.2 ov)].
The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned outfit never recovered from those telling blows and finished with 160 for six in the stipulated 20 overs.
They suffered their fifth defeat in the tournament, while Rajasthan registered their fifth victory from seven games to stay third with 10 points.
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Udana was the first to achieve the feat
Image: Isuru Udana of Sri LankaPhotographs: Hamish Blair/Getty Images
However, Tambe is not the first to perform the feat.
This is the second time that a bowler in T20 cricket has taken a hat-trick in two legal deliveries.
Sri Lankan left-arm seamer Isuru Udana was the first among equals, as he got three with two legal deliveries when playing for Wayamba against Central Districts during a 2010 Champions League T20 match in Port Elizabeth.
In Monday's IPL match, Kolkata, replying to Rajasthan's 170-6, had an opening stand of 121, but with only 50 runs left to get, lost six wickets for two runs and never recovered.
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