By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
Georgetown, Guyana: Lasith Malinga was the most wanted man after his deadly spell against South Africa.
The 23-year-old pacer literally grabbed four wickets for 54 runs and that too in just four balls. So, does he feel dizzy after that spell?
Still recovering from the excitement and a little upset, he said, "It was a good opportunity to bowl my team to victory. It was so close. I should have taken that one more wicket."
Malinga's hat-trick is the fifth hat-trick in World Cup history, the second by a Sri Lankan (after Chaminda Vaas, against Bangladesh at Pietermaritzburg in 2003) but it was the first time in the tournament's history that a player has taken four wickets in as many successive deliveries.
Surely this must be his greatest spell, or did he perform even better in domestic cricket?
"I did get a hat-trick in domestic cricket once, but never have I picked four wickets in four balls," he said. Among the four stunning deliveries, which one does he think was the best?
"I think the ball which got Pollock out was the best.
"However, I was also very happy when I got Kallis for the hat-trick wicket," he confessed.
Will this spell be a big morale-booster for him? Malinga thought for a while and said: "I think it has given me confidence. I now know that I can get wickets if I can bowl fast."
Any regrets on being able to get that last wicket for victory? "Of course, it is a big regret. Though I bowled well in my second spell, to be frank I bowled badly in my first spell," he replied.
In the end, South Africa beat Sri Lanka by one wicket.
Georgetown, Guyana: Lasith Malinga was the most wanted man after his deadly spell against South Africa.
The 23-year-old pacer literally grabbed four wickets for 54 runs and that too in just four balls. So, does he feel dizzy after that spell?
Still recovering from the excitement and a little upset, he said, "It was a good opportunity to bowl my team to victory. It was so close. I should have taken that one more wicket."
Malinga's hat-trick is the fifth hat-trick in World Cup history, the second by a Sri Lankan (after Chaminda Vaas, against Bangladesh at Pietermaritzburg in 2003) but it was the first time in the tournament's history that a player has taken four wickets in as many successive deliveries.
Surely this must be his greatest spell, or did he perform even better in domestic cricket?
"I did get a hat-trick in domestic cricket once, but never have I picked four wickets in four balls," he said. Among the four stunning deliveries, which one does he think was the best?
"I think the ball which got Pollock out was the best.
"However, I was also very happy when I got Kallis for the hat-trick wicket," he confessed.
Will this spell be a big morale-booster for him? Malinga thought for a while and said: "I think it has given me confidence. I now know that I can get wickets if I can bowl fast."
Any regrets on being able to get that last wicket for victory? "Of course, it is a big regret. Though I bowled well in my second spell, to be frank I bowled badly in my first spell," he replied.
In the end, South Africa beat Sri Lanka by one wicket.
