After Adelaide Strikers leg-spinner Rashid Khan dismantled the Sydney Sixers middle-order earlier on Wednesday, Haris Rauf did the same for Melbourne Stars in their clash against Sydney Thunder.
With the Thunder near the end of their innings and looking to score few quick runs, Rauf dismissed Matt Gilkes, Callum Ferguson and Daniel Sams in consecutive deliveries.
Rauf finished with figures of 3/23 off his four overs as Stars restricted Thunder to 145-5 in their stipulated 20 overs.
An iconic BBL moment.
Enjoy Haris Rauf's hat-trick! #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/Qm8iYrIRfA
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 8, 2020
After the exploits of Rashid earlier in the day, fans were up on their feet after Rauf did the same at the MCG.
A HAT-TRICK FOR HARIS RAUF, AND THE @MCG ERUPTS!!!
🤪🥳🤪🥳💚 #TeamGreen #WeWillShine
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) January 8, 2020
First Rashid Khan, now Haris Rauf! #BBL09 https://t.co/Ah8KFlrigq
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 8, 2020
No one in Australia had heard of Haris Rauf three weeks ago.
His BBL09 stats: 13 wickets at 7.23 with an economy rate of 5.87.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) January 8, 2020
Hat-trick for Haris Rauf in the Big Bash League. First Pakistani to do it in the BBL. What a signing he has been for Melbourne. #BBL09
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 8, 2020
Another sensational performance by Haris Rauf as he picks up a hat-trick for Melbourne Stars in the BBL, finishing with figures of 3/23. One of his deliveries today was clocked at 151.3kph #BBL09 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/5xhShnQwT5
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) January 8, 2020
@HarisRauf14 TAKE A BOW! Absolute gun for the @StarsBBL 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 @7Cricket
— Erin Holland (@erinvholland) January 8, 2020