Published: Sep 07, 2016, 01:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 07, 2016, 01:55 PM (IST)
Nottinghamshire’s Jake Ball rocked title-chasing Middlesex with a first-over hat-trick in their County Championship match at Trent Bridge on Tuesday. Middlesex, four points clear of second-placed Yorkshire going into this round of fixtures, bowled the Midlands club out for 241 after opting to put them in to bat. But the visitors then suddenly found themselves on nought for three in reply as England paceman Ball struck in spectacular fashion. Former England opener Sam Robson survived Ball’s first two deliveries but then edged the third to Steven Mullaney in the slips. Ollie Rayner, in at number three, was then lbw first ball and after a long wait for England’s Nick Compton, who ran the risk of being timed out, he too fell lbw to Ball. READ: Jake Ball: Trevor Bayliss had no idea who I was when I bumped into him
Ball’s former Nottinghamshire team-mate James Taylor wrote on Twitter: “I cannot believe what I’ve just seen at Trent bridge!!! Jake ball hat-trick in the first over of middlesex innings!! Unreal!!” Middlesex did not lose a wicket before stumps on the first day and were nine for three at the close.
The 25-year-old bowler’s, efforts made sure Nottinghamshire earned a bowling bonus point, who are in a must-win scenario, if they want to keep their hopes of staying alive in Division One, within five balls of Middlesex’s reply.
Ball took the second Championship hat-trick of the County season. Craig Miles claimed the first one against Essex, in July.
The astonishing end to the first day’s play came after a promising bowling display from Steven Finn, who returned to the Middlesex side, after featuring in England’s Test series against Pakistan.
