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WELLINGTON: Otago fast bowler Neil Wagner became only the fifth bowler in first-class cricket to take five wickets in an over when he equalled the world record against Wellington on Wednesday.
The South African-born left-armer reduced Wellington from 136 for four to 136 for nine in the final over before lunch.
Wagner joins a select list which includes Bill Copson (Derbyshire v Warwickshire, 1937), William Henderson (Northern Transvaal v Orange Free State 1938), Pat Pocock (Surrey v Sussex, 1972) and Yasir Arafat (Rawalpindi v Faisalabad 2004).
“It was freakish stuff, everything I bowled just came out right,” a delighted Wagner told Reuters by telephone.
“Once I got the first wicket I could see the ball was swinging so I just tried to bowl full and straight. The yorkers came out perfectly.”
Opening batsman Stewart Rhodes was Wagner’s first victim, caught by Neil Broom in the gully for 77. Justin Austin-Smellie and Jeetan Patel were then bowled to complete the hat-trick and Mal Tugaga followed to make it four wickets in four balls.
New Zealand seamer Mark Gillespie successfully defended his first ball but was bowled by the final ball of the over. Wagner finished with career-best figures of six for 36 as Wellington were all out for 148.
“I didn’t know anything about the record until we were walking off the pitch, I was just pleased to get the hat-trick,” added Wagner, who qualifies to play for New Zealand through residency next year.
“Things like this only happen once in a career and you’ve just got to take advantage. It still hasn’t sunk in.”
Wellington were dismissed for 155 following on in their second innings, with Wagner taking three more wickets, to give Otago victory by an innings and 138 runs.
