Dasun Shanaka scripted MLC history with first-ever double hat trick as Seattle Orcas stun Texas Super Kings

Dasun Shanaka receives congratulations from teammates (X-Seattle Orcas) Dasun Shanaka produced one of the most spectacular finishes in Cognizant Major League cricket history as he claimed the tournament’s first-ever double hat-trick to help Seattle Orcas defend a modest total and seal a thrilling nine-run victory over Texas Super Kings. Defending just 121, the Orcas looked under immense pressure as Texas entered the final over needing 15 runs. Shanaka, however, produced a memorable spell under pressure as he dismissed four batsmen in four consecutive deliveries to grab victory for the visitors. After Shubham Ranjane, who scored for Texas, started with a boundary and a single, the equation went down to 10 runs off the last four balls. Shanaka then completely took over. His first victim was Donovan Ferreira, whose stumps were shattered by a well-disguised leg-cutter. Calvin Savage followed immediately after and mistimed another slower delivery straight to Shimron Hetmyer at long-on. Adam Milne came on with Texas still needing 10 runs from two balls. Shanaka stuck to his variations and edged past the wicket to complete the hat-trick. The drama is not over. Facing the last ball, Amshi de Silva attempted a big hit despite the game being out of reach. He mishit the shot towards long-on where Hetmyer completed the catch to hand Shanak his fourth wicket in four balls, completing the first double hat-trick in Major League Cricket history and securing a memorable victory for Seattle. The low-scoring encounter was dominated by the bowlers from the start. After electing to field first, Texas reduced the Orcas to 44/4 before another collapse saw them struggling at 70/7 in the 13th over. In the early wickets, Tim Seifert, Matthew Breetzke and Shayan Jehangir were dismissed in the Powerplay, while the departure of Marcus Stoinis further dented Seattle’s hopes of posting a competitive score. Harmeet Singh and Cameron Gannon steadied the innings with a valuable 31-run partnership before contributions from the lower order, including Shanaka’s 16 runs, lifted the Orcas to 121/9. Texas started the chase positively through Faf du Plessis, but the momentum quickly changed. Ottneil Baartman produced a fine spell, removing both Du Plessis and Saiteja Mukkamalla, before returning later to dismiss Wiaan Mulder during the shootout. He finished with excellent figures of 3 for 9, while Adam Milne earlier played with the ball by conceding just 10 runs in his four overs and taking two wickets. Despite Ranjane keeping Texas in the contest and Ferreira’s late limit and six in the penultimate over reducing the target to 15 off the last six deliveries, Shanak’s masterclass of slower balls and cutters ensured the Orcas crossed the finish line. His extraordinary finish not only sealed victory for Seattle but also etched his name into the Major League Cricket record books with a historic double hat-trick.