India’s Ekta Bisht holds a major record in the Women’s T20 World Cup. The left-arm spinner holds the record for becoming the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the history of the tournament. She achieved the feat in the 2012 edition against Sri Lanka at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo.

The tweaker finished with figures of 4-0-16-3 and also won the Player of the Match award after India beat the Islanders by nine wickets. The now 38-year-old was entrusted to bowl the final over of the Sri Lankan innings, and she did not let her team, led by Mithali Raj, down.

Bisht picked up the wickets of Dilani Manodara, Yasoda Mendis and Eshani Lokasuriya. She also affected the run out of Sandamali Dolawatte as India restricted their opponents to 100 for eight. The Women in Blue chased down the target with 32 balls to spare on the back of Punam Raut’s 45.

Currently, out of contention for a berth in the Indian women’s team, Bisht has taken 53 wickets from 42 matches at an economy rate of 5.30 with best figures of 4-0-21-4 against England in 2016 in Dharamsala.

In the T20 World Cups, Bisht has taken eight wickets from five matches at an economy rate of 4.69. Bisht also played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024.

England’s Anya Shrubsole is the other bowler to have taken a hat-trick in the Women’s T20 World Cup. She achieved the feat against South Africa in the 2018 edition at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia.

Shrubsole, who finished her career with 102 WT20 wickets, got the wickets of Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas and Yolani Fourie. England bowled the Proteas out for 85 in 19.3 overs and eventually won the match by seven wickets after chasing down the target with 35 balls to spare.

Source: India Today