Five best ODI hat-tricks in cricket

MSN picks its choice of 5 of the very best hat-tricks in ODI cricket. Here we go...

Best hat-trick – Charl Langeveldt

Venue/period/occasion: Barbados/ 2005/ bilateral series
Opponent: West Indies
Hat-trick victims: Ian Bradshaw, Darren Powell, Corey Collymore
Match result: South Africa won by 1 run

What makes this the best hat-trick: Easily the best hat-trick in the game of ODI cricket as this was an out and out match-winner. South Africa had gone into this third match of the five-match series with a 2-0 lead and with a chance to wrap up the series. Batting first, Graeme Smith’s team put up a commanding 284 on the board thanks to a superb 123 by Boeta Dippenar. The target of 285 was always going to be difficult for any team at Bridgetown.

West Indies got off to a good start as Gayle blew the Proteas away with a stunning century. He made a polished 132 as the West Indies looked on course for a good victory. At 281 for 6 and with 4 needed off 7 balls and 4 wickets in hand, the Windies were clear favourites to win the match. Off the last ball of the 49^th over, Ntini removed wicket-keeper batsman Courtney Browne and the score became 281 for 7. The home team shook it off early in the final over as Dwayne Bravo picked up a single, which meant they were only 2 away from win and 1 from tie. In came Langeveldt and fired in 3 absolute beauties to remove Bradshaw, Powell and Collymore to leave the West Indies dressing room and Bridgetown devastated. From the jaws of certain defeat, South Africa stole a great victory.