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On March 28, 2007, when Sri Lanka and South Africa played against each other at the Providence Stadium in the World Cup 2007 game, Lasith Malinga picked up four wickets on consecutive deliveries and became the first bowler to dismiss four batters in a row in the mega One-Day International (ODI) event. Defending the low total of 210, the Proteas were looking comfortable in the chase until their 44th over of the innings. With just four required off 32 deliveries, Malinga displayed pluck and got rid of Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall on back-to-back deliveries and concluded his eighth over. The speedster returned to bowl his ninth over and bagged the prized scalp of veteran Jacques Kallis on the first delivery and completed his hat-trick.
Malinga became the second Sri Lanka bowler to clinch a hat-trick in World Cups following Chaminda Vaas, who also took three consecutive wickets against Bangladesh in the 2003 edition of the mega 50-over tournament. After picking up Kallis, Malinga cleaned up tailender Makhaya Ntini on the next delivery and struck against the Proteas again. South Africa got shaken by Malinga’s sudden onslaught, but their stalwarts Robin Peterson and Charles Lagdeveldt held their nerves and completed the chase in 48.2 overs. The Proteas left the field with a one-wicket win and Malinga shared the player of the match (POTM) award with South Africa’s Langeveldt, who grabbed a fifer in the contest. Malinga racked up 4/52 figures in his 9.2 overs.
Malinga played an essential role in Sri Lanka’s campaign as runners-up
In Sri Lanka’s campaign as World Cup 2007 runners-up, Malinga chipped in with 18 wickets in eight matches. With these numbers, he ended up as the most successful pacer for Sri Lanka in the competition. Sri Lanka lost to defending champions Australia in the final of the event held in Bridgetown.
After 2007, Malinga appeared in the next three installments of the World Cup. He added 56 wickets to his World Cup profile after showing up in 29 matches. In September 2021, the pacer announced retirement from all forms of the sport after serving Sri Lanka for 16 years from 2004 to 2020.
