In 138 years of New Zealand Domestic first-class matches, there had been only eight first-class hat-tricks for the Auckland Aces. Now the team has their second in the 2020/21 Plunket Shield season.
In just his ninth first-class appearance, left-arm spinner Louis Delport has achieved the rare feat with the wickets of Brett Hampton (caught by Sean Solia for 4), followed by BLACKCAPS Ish Sodhi (caught by debutant Ross ter Braak for 0) and BJ Watling (caught by Robbie O'Donnell for 37 after the batsmen crossed) with his second, third and fourth deliveries in the 67th over of hosts Northern Districts' first innings in Whangarei, today.
HAT-TRICK | What a day for Louis Delport at Cobham Oval.
— Auckland Cricket (@aucklandcricket) March 14, 2021
7️⃣-8️⃣8️⃣
A career-best day for the left-arm spinner, including this hat-trick!#PlunketShield #FollowSuit 🔷🏏 pic.twitter.com/Bfhxo8expt
Delport, 33, had already claimed the wickets of Tim Seifert, Joe Carter, Jeet Raval and Scott Kuggeleijn in the innings, meaning the first ball of his hat-trick also delivered his second first-class bag - finishing with an outstanding career-best 7-88 off just 17 overs and four maidens before Northern Districts declared their innings eight down.
Earlier this season, BLACKCAP Kyle Jamieson took a first-class hat-trick for the Auckland Aces against the Central Stags at Eden Park Outer Oval, Delport and Jamieson joining Matt McEwan and Ben Lister as players to have taken a Plunket Shield hat-trick for the team in the last four seasons.
