MLC 2026: Dasun Shanaka recreates Lasith Malinga’s famous four-in-four feat
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The Rare Magic of a Double Hat-Trick in Cricket
There are hat-tricks, and then there are moments that leave everyone in complete disbelief. Taking four wickets in four consecutive deliveries—often referred to as a double hat-trick—is one of cricket’s rarest and most elusive achievements. It demands immense skill, ice-cold composure, and a little bit of magic, especially when a high-stakes match hangs entirely in the balance.
Dasun Shanaka produced exactly that brand of magic on Sunday. The Sri Lankan all-rounder turned certain defeat into an unforgettable, miraculous win for the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026. Facing an uphill battle to defend a low total, Shanaka rose to the occasion to etch his name into the history books.
Seattle Orcas. (Credits: X.com)
The Miracle Final Over: How the Drama Unfolded
Defending a modest total of just 121 runs against the Texas Super Kings, Seattle looked completely out of the contest. The game seemed to be slipping away rapidly, especially as the final over commenced. When the opposition needed only 11 runs from the final five balls to secure victory, the odds were heavily stacked against the Orcas. But Shanaka had other ideas.
The Sri Lankan captain delivered what will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest final overs in MLC history. He initiated the turnaround by cleaning up Donovan Ferreira with a brilliantly disguised slower ball, just as the South African powerhouse threatened to take the game completely away. On the very next delivery, Calvin Savage tried to clear the boundary but succeeded only in finding the fielder stationed at long-on.
MLC : Dasun Shanaka Picked 4 Wickets in 4 balls While Defending 15 runs in Final over against TSK 😮
— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar)
With a hat-trick ball in hand and the pressure reaching a boiling point, Shanaka kept his cool under the intense spotlight. Adam Milne tried to clear the ropes to break the tension but only managed to get a thick edge through to the wicketkeeper. With three down in three balls, only one wicket remained for Texas Super Kings. Shanaka completed the incredible, historic feat when Amshi de Silva picked out Shimron Hetmyer in the deep. This sealed a dramatic nine-run victory and gave the Seattle captain four wickets in four balls.
Shanaka finished the match with sensational figures of 4/26, producing one of the finest and most clutch bowling performances in the tournament’s history.
Recreating Sri Lankan History: The Malinga Connection
This legendary achievement immediately put Shanaka alongside another Sri Lankan great. Lasith Malinga famously claimed four wickets in four balls against South Africa during the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in Guyana. Malinga’s incredible spell nearly pulled off an impossible win for Sri Lanka back then, and it remains one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history.
Nearly two decades later, Shanaka gave Sri Lankan fans another unforgettable memory with a four-in-four of his own on the global franchise stage, demonstrating the same clutch gene that made Malinga a legend of the short format.
How the Match Set Up: Seattle’s Batting Struggles
Earlier in the day, the Seattle Orcas struggled heavily with the bat. The innings got off to a disastrous start as they slipped to a precarious 15/3, and things did not improve quickly as they later slumped to 70/7. The Texas Super Kings bowlers consistently found breakthroughs, leaving the Orcas searching for answers.
It was Cameron Gannon who top-scored with a fighting 20 runs, while Harmeet Singh and Jasdeep Singh added incredibly valuable late runs lower down the order. Their gritty contributions helped push the team to a total of 121/9, giving the bowlers at least something to defend on a challenging surface.
The Bowling Unit Keeps Seattle in the Hunt
Despite the low total, the Seattle bowlers refused to give up without a fight. Ottneil Baartman set the tone early in the chase by dismantling the top order. In a brilliant spell of 3/9, Baartman dismissed Faf du Plessis, Saiteja Mukkamalla, and Wiaan Mulder to keep the pressure firmly on the Texas Super Kings.
However, Shubham Ranjane’s unbeaten 40 kept Texas alive and seemingly in control of the chase until the final over arrived. It looked as though Ranjane would guide his side home, but Shanaka’s unforgettable burst completely rewrote the script.
Some wins are remembered for days, while others are remembered for decades. Thanks to four wickets in four balls, this legendary defense will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest finishes in MLC history.
