Former Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka created history by taking four wickets in four consecutive balls during the final over of a Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 match. Shanaka's remarkable spell helped the Seattle Orcas defend a modest total and seal a thrilling nine-run victory over the Texas Super Kings.
The match was played at the Knight Riders Cricket Stadium in Pomona on Saturday, July 5. Texas Super Kings chose to bowl first and restricted Seattle Orcas to 121/9. However, Shanaka inspired a dramatic collapse as the Faf du Plessis-led team was bowled out for just 112 runs, suffering their third straight defeat.
How Dasun Shanaka produced a historic final over for Seattle Orcas
Texas Super Kings needed 15 runs from the final over with Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Ranjane at the crease. Ranjane began with a boundary and then took a single, leaving 10 runs required from the last four deliveries.
Dasun Shanaka turned the match around with a brilliant slower leg-cutter that dismissed Ferreira. He then had Calvin Savage caught at long-on before Adam Milne edged the hat-trick ball behind to the wicketkeeper while attempting a big shot.
Dasun Shanaka completed the stunning spell by dismissing Amshi de Silva, who was caught brilliantly in the deep by Shimron Hetmyer. He became the first bowler in Major League Cricket history to take four wickets in four consecutive balls.
The former Sri Lanka captain was also named the Player of the Match for his match-winning performance and the first hat-trick of his professional career.
Watch: The four deliveries that changed the match completely
DASUN SHANAKA BRINGS THIS ONE HOME FOR THE ORCAS 🐋
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 6, 2026
The Texas Super Kings went into the last over needing just 15 runs, but Shanaka held them off and got the first double hat-trick in Cognizant Major League Cricket history 🎩 pic.twitter.com/vN3mkIAmwJ
It Feels Amazing to Get a Double Hat-trick - Dasun Shanaka Delighted After Historic Spell
Dasun Shanaka said that he was thrilled after taking the first double hat-trick of his professional career. The former Sri Lanka captain admitted that he knew the final over would be challenging with Donovan Ferreira at the crease.
"(Is that your first ever hat-trick?) Of course, indeed it is. Yeah, all in my cricket career. (Do you remember a certain Sri Lankan who got four in four ever before?) Of course, one and only great Lasith Malinga, my captain. (What does it feel like to be the second Sri Lankan to do it?) It feels amazing to get a double hat-trick. It's a different stage, but really happy," Dasun Shanaka said.
"(Were you happy to bowl the final over?) I had a bad day when we played in San Francisco. So, yeah, I knew that it's going to be myself or Stoinis at the end. So, after Stoinis bowled four overs, it was me only left to bowl the last over. And, Donovan was on strike. He's a kind of a player who can finish the games from nowhere. So, happy to get Donovan's wicket. And, it was the icing on the cake. Our bowlers bowled really well."
Donovan Ferreira had earlier scored 22 off 16 balls and added a crucial 43-run stand with Shubham Ranjane. Before Shanaka, Texas Super Kings spinner Akeal Hosein was the only bowler to take a hat-trick in Major League Cricket.
Ottneil Baartman Stars as Seattle Orcas Defend 121
South African pacer Ottneil Baartman laid the foundation for Seattle Orcas' victory with an outstanding spell. He dismissed Faf du Plessis, Saiteja Mukkamalla, and Wiaan Mulder to leave Texas Super Kings struggling at 50/4. Baartman also bowled a maiden over and finished with figures of 3/9 in four overs.
Seattle Orcas had earlier collapsed to 15/3 and later slipped to 70/7 after Marcus Stoinis was dismissed. Cameron Gannon top-scored with 20, while Harmeet Singh returned after retiring hurt to help add valuable runs in the final over alongside Jasdeep Singh.
Amshi de Silva claimed 3/15, while Adam Milne returned 2/10 for Texas Super Kings. The victory lifted Seattle Orcas to second on the Major League Cricket points table, while Texas Super Kings remained at the bottom after their fifth defeat in eight matches.
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