Hernan Fennell shines with double hat-trick in T20 match against Cayman Islands

Argentina’s Hernan Fennell achieved a historic double hat-trick during a T20 match against the Cayman Islands in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Americas Qualifier in Buenos Aires on Sunday. The 36-year-old’s exceptional feat makes him only the sixth player in men’s T20I history to achieve this milestone.

Fennell’s heroics unfolded in the final over of the Cayman Islands’ innings. He dismissed Troy Taylor with the third delivery of his fourth over and followed it up by trapping Alistair Ifill lbw on the very next ball. With the Cayman Islands reeling at 116/8, Fennell wrapped up the innings by removing Ronald Ebanks and Alessandro Morris with consecutive deliveries, completing his four wickets in four balls and finishing with stellar figures of 5/14.

This remarkable achievement places Fennell in an elite group of players, alongside Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga, Ireland’s Curtis Campher, West Indies’ Jason Holder, and Lesotho’s Waseem Yaqoob, all of whom have accomplished a double hat-trick in T20Is.

Fennell’s feat also makes him only the sixth player in men’s T20I history to take multiple hat-tricks. He had previously taken a hat-trick against Panama in 2021 during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier in Antigua. Other players who share this rare distinction include Malta’s Waseem Abbas, Australia’s Pat Cummins, Serbia’s Mark Pavlovic, New Zealand’s Tim Southee, and Sri Lanka’s Malinga.

Despite Fennell’s extraordinary performance with the ball, Argentina could not capitalize on his efforts. Chasing a modest target of 117, the team faltered and was bowled out for just 94, handing the Cayman Islands a 22-run victory.