Watch: Rangana Herath claims first ever Test Hat-trick

When Rangana Herath woke up this morning, the wild hopes of taking his first ever Test match hat-trick would have perhaps been the last thing on his mind. However, the 38-year old left-arm spinner took three consecutive wickets in as many deliveries as he went on to become only the second Sri Lankan bowler to take a Test match hat-trick. The last Sri Lankan player to take a Test match hat-trick was left-arm pacer Nuwan Zoysa in 1999 against Zimbabwe.

Herath has been the premier bowler for Sri Lanka in recent times, especially since the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan. The second Test at Galle, although is threatening to conclude in slightly over two days saw history being created and giving the crowd something to hold onto when Rangana Herath completed an important hat-trick in the context of his career and the Test match as a whole.

Herath’s three-for began with the dismissal of Adam Voges when the effervescent Australian batsman lost his wicket while attempting a cover drive, only to find Dimuth Karunaratne positioned at cover. The next to go was wicketkeeper Peter Nevill was trapped leg-before in what was certainly an easy decision for the umpire at the moment.

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The third wicket was that of Mitchell Starc, who was initially adjudged not out for an improbable leg-before appeal. However, having taken a chance with the Decision Review System, subsequent replays showcased that Herath had indeed claimed his hat-trick by the skin of his teeth when the ball just managed to find a sliver of itself in line with the stumps.

Watch: Rangana Herath claims first ever Test Hattrick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blrtqb67j8Q