Saturday 22 December 2018 12:19, UK
With three days to go until Christmas, it's time to recognise those players who achieved a domestic hat-trick this summer.
JOE DENLY had an incredible night at the Kia Oval in July as he scored a hundred and then took a hat-trick as Kent Spitfires launched their Vitality Blast campaign with a six-run success.
Denly smashed 102 from 63 balls, helping the Spitfires to 173-6, but Surrey were on course for a successful chase before Denly's leg-spin decimated the middle order - Rikki Clarke, Jamie Smith and Matt Pillans going in successive balls - as Surrey folded to 167 all out in the penultimate over.
Lancashire's JORDAN CLARK claimed one of the most impressive hat-tricks of all time as he nipped out Yorkshire's Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Jonny Bairstow - three players with a combined tally of over 15,000 runs in the Test arena!
Moreover, Clark became the first Lancashire bowler to take a hat-trick in a Roses match since Ken Higgs at Headingley in 1968.
TASH FARRANT's hat-trick for Southern Vipers couldn't stop Lancashire Thunder from a four-run success in the Kia Super League clash at Liverpool.
Evelyn Jones top-scored with 69 for Thunder but was the first of Farrant's three victims in as many balls, Sophie Ecclestone and Emma Lamb falling to the next two deliveries, as Thunder posted 137-6.
However, Lamb (4-17) and Ecclestone (3-25) still had a major roll to play, sharing seven wickets, as Vipers slipped from 85-1 to finish on 133-9.
JOFRA ARCHER starred as Sussex pulled off an unlikely 12-run win over Middlesex in the Vitality Blast clash at Lord's in August.
The speedster ended an entertaining knock of 90 off 56 balls from England white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan, before bowling John Simpson and trapping James Fuller lbw.
A fortnight later Archer's team-mate TYMAL MILLS took the plaudits, claiming 3-20 to condemn Glamorgan to a 98-run defeat.
Mills struck with his first three balls of the 14th over, bowling Andrew Salter and Michael Hogan either side of Timm van der Gugten edging behind, as Glamorgan were bundled out of for just 88.
There was more drama to come in the County Championship in September, where Hampshire's KYLE ABBOTT rocked Worcestershire in a crunch contest.
Abbott finished on 5-35 after removing Joe Clarke, Josh Tongue and Ed Barnard in consecutive deliveries - Worcestershire collapsing to defeat by 114 runs having been set a target of 248.
Somerset skipper TOM ABELL took a remarkable hat-trick against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Abell - who bowled just nine balls without conceding a run - dismissed Luke Fletcher, Matt Carter and Harry Gurney to wrap up the Notts innings for 133, with Craig Overton taking 4-27.
OVERTON remained a threat, becoming the second Somerset player in as many days to take a hat-trick as Notts were despatched.
Ben Slater (49), Samit Patel (0) and Rikki Wessels (0) were the victims, all dismissed in near-identical fashion, as they nicked to Marcus Trescothick at second slip.
Finally, a special mention to RICHARD GLEESON for setting the ball rolling with a hat-trick for the MCC in the Champion County Match against Essex.
Callum Taylor, Matt Coles and Aaron Beard were despatched in quick succession as Gleeson bagged 5-50 in Bridgetown.
Watch live action on Sky Sports Cricket this Christmas as New Zealand and Sri Lanka go head to head, before South Africa take on Pakistan.
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