'I didn't even know': Bizarre moment makes BBL history

A surprise hat-trick by Josh Lalor has helped Brisbane to restrict the Perth Scorchers to 9-128 in Friday night’s Big Bash League clash at the Gabba.

Only teammate Alex Ross realised Lalor had claimed the rare feat, pointing it out to the left-arm seamer after he nabbed one wicket with the last ball of his second over and scalps with the first two balls of his third late in the Scorchers’ innings.

It is the fourth hat-trick in BBL history.

“We didn’t even know,” Heat skipper Chris Lynn said.

Lalor later confirmed on Channel 7 that he genuinely had no idea.

“I’ve been slightly satisfied with my performance – I’ll be up until 2am thinking about my first over today,” he said.

“That’s my first hat-trick. I’ve been on plenty and I sort of gave up about five or six years ago, that I was just never going to get one.

“Finally I’ve got one and I didn’t even know it was a hat-trick, so there you go.”

The omens weren’t good for the visitors after they lost the toss and two ducks flew onto the ground and started grazing the in-field at the start of Perth’s innings.

It would have no doubt triggered bad memories for the Scorchers after they were rolled for 79 in their last game against the Melbourne Renegades which featured two ducks.

“That’s not a good sign if you are a batsman,” Fox Sports commentator Adam Gilchrist said of the feathered visitors.

While Perth avoided a repeat of their lowest BBL total, they were never able to fire thanks to Lalor (3-23) and Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3-16 off four overs).

The Scorchers at one stage were reeling at 3-17 in the fourth over with former Test batsman Shaun Marsh (two off six balls) among Ur Rahman’s early scalps.

No.3 Cameron Bancroft (32 off 24 balls) and Nick Hobson (43 off 35) at least ensured a competitive total.

Heat spinner Matthew Kuhnemann took 2-22 on BBL debut.

Seventh-placed Brisbane and dead-last Perth are desperate for a victory to avoid the wooden spoon with three games remaining.

Brisbane are only a mathematical finals chance while three-time champions Perth are set to miss the playoffs for the first time.

with AAP