Keshav Maharaj hat-trick video: Maharaj picks three in three as South Africa tighten grip on St Lucia Test

Keshav Maharaj hat-trick: The South African spinner has become only the second bowler from his county to pick a Test hat-trick.

During the fourth day of the second Test of the ongoing South Africa’s tour of West Indies in St Lucia, South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj sent back three opposition batsmen in as many deliveries on the stroke of lunch to power his team towards a second consecutive victory.

Chasing a 324-run target, West Indies were pretty much in the game primarily because of opening batsman Kieron Powell’s seventh Test half-century.

However, it was on the third delivery of the 37th over that when Maharaj put an end to Powerll’s innings as he departed after scoring 51 (116). In reality, it was Powell’s over-ambitiousness which cost him his wicket as the left-handed batsman hit an aerial sweep straight to Anrich Nortje at deep mid-wicket.

On the following two deliveries, Maharaj dismissed all-rounder Jason Holder (0) and wicket-keeper batsman Joshua Da Silva (0) as both the batsmen were caught by close in-fielders. Da Silva’s dismissal, in particular, was majorly due to a spectacular catch completed by Wiaan Mulder at leg-slip.

Playing his 36th Test, the 31-year old bowler has become only the second South African bowler to pick a Test hat-trick. Maharaj, who was bowling his ninth over of the innings, is by far South Africa’s most economical bowler with bowling figures of 9-4-15-3. At 109/6, the hosts need 215 more runs to win the match and save the series.

Keshav Maharaj hat-trick

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