Fast Bowler Gus Atkinson secured a sensational hat-trick on Saturday dismantling Kiwi’s lower order and setting a dominant stance for The Three Lions on England’s tour of New Zealand 2024.
The 26-year-old dismissed Nathan Smith, Matt Henry and Tim Southee with consecutive deliveries in his ninth over as England bowled out for 125 to take a 155-run lead. Currently, England leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first test by eight wickets.
Gus Atkinson was the 15th England bowler and the first since Moeen Ali against South Africa in 2017 to complete a test hat-trick. He dismissed Nathan Smith (14), Matt Henry (0) and Tim Southee (0) in back-to-back deliveries to complete a memorable hat-trick.
A breathtaking morning session in Wellington 🙌
🎩 A Gus Atkinson hat-trick
🚀 Going at nearly a run-a-ball
📈 Building our lead towards 250🏴 8️⃣2️⃣-1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/s4ewN4v01r
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 7, 2024
Atkinson finished with figures of 4/31, sharing the spoils with fellow pacer Brydon Carse who took 4/46. New Zealand resumed the day on 86/5 but could add only 39 runs in first 40 minutes of play. Carse removed both overnight batters, bolwing Tom Blundell for 16 and trapping William O’Rourke LBW for a duck.
With a lead of 155 runs, England batters further tightened the lead and managed to secure a unfathomable lead of 500+ runs.
Gus Atkinson has 47 wickets to his name in 18 innings of 10 Tests played so far. By takins his first ever hat-trick in international cricket, Atkinson joined Jasprit Bumrah in an elite list.
The England seamer became the fourth bowler in WTC history to take a hat-trick. Jasprit Bumrah was the first bowler to dismiss three batters in three balls.
He achieved the feat during 2019 India-West Indies test, which was played in Kingston from August 30 to September 02.
Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah also has a hat-trick to hs name in WTC. The 21 year old fast bowler had dismissed of Najmul Hossain Shanto, Taijul Islam and Mahmudullah in three consecutive balls during the Pakistan-Bangladesh where the latter secured a historic series win.
Meanwhile, Keshav Maharaj dismissed three West Indies batters during WTC match for South Africa in Gros Islet from June 18-21 in 2021.
