Pat Cummins creates T20 World Cup history as 'unthinkable' hat-trick stuns in Aussie loss

Pat Cummins has become the first player in cricket history to record back-to-back hat-tricks at a T20 World Cup after a freak spell, despite the Aussies going down to Afghanistan in the Super 8 stage. Cummins became just the second Australian ever to record a hat-trick at a T20 World Cup after taking three straight wickets against Bangladesh in their opening Super 8 game.

And after Afghanistan got off to a solid start against Australia, Adam Zampa and Cummins once again ripped through the batting line-up as their rivals tried to accelerate the run-rate. And to leave the cricket world in absolute shock, Cummins became the first bowler ever to take a hat-trick in two consecutive games.

With Zampa taking two quick dismissals, Cummins came on in the 18th over and took the wicket of the dangerous Rashid Khan as the allrounder found Tim David on the last ball over the over. In the 20th over, Cummins then opened with the wicket of Karim Janat when he found David.

And like he did in the game against Bangladesh, Cummins completed his hat-trick across two overs. The 31-year-old dismissed Gulbadin Naib when he also found Glenn Maxwell in a similar dismissal to Khan. Against Bangladesh, Cummins looked nonchalant when celebrating his hat-trick because the bowler didn't realise he had achieved the feat until it appeared on the big screen.

Cummins was more aware of his hat-trick ball this time around against Afghanistan and celebrated with more energy. However, Maxwell was unaware Cummins was on a hat-trick and appeared dumbfounded at the celebrations. To make the spell even more astonishing, David Warner dropped a catch off the very next ball. This would have handed Cummins four wickets in a row.

After the innings, Cummins admitted it was unbelievable he had taken two hat-tricks in two games after so many appearances for his nation. "I'll remembered this one," Cummins joked as he alluded to his reaction in the previous Bangladesh game when he didn't know he recorded a hat-trick.

"I have played hundreds of games for Australia, but now have two in a row." Cummins finished for 3-28 off four overs on a wicket favouring the bowlers. Cricket fans went wild for the Aussie bowler who now stands alone with a special slice of cricket history.

Aussie fielding poor against Afghanistan at World Cup

Australia put down a number of chances against Afghanistan in the field in their Super Eight game, which left Cummins frustrated after the innings. "I thought they batted well. But I thought we restricted the boundaries...overall a decent bowling effort, but not our tidiest day in the field," he said in his post-innings interview.

Both Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh both fell early in Australia's run-chase of 148. David Warner struggled for five overs and eventually hit it straight up in the air to be dismissed for just three runs of eight deliveries. Naib took four wickets for 20 runs to win player-of-the-match. He took the important wicket of Maxwell as Australia looked to have gained ascendency.

But the wickets continued to tumble with Australia all out for 127 runs to put their campaign in dire straights heading into the match against India. Australia will need a win against India to advance to the semi-final.