Argentina's Hernan Fennell made history on Sunday by becoming only the sixth bowler to achieve a double hat-trick during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Americas Qualifier against the Cayman Islands, held in Buenos Aires. The right-arm seamer pulled off this remarkable feat by claiming four wickets with four consecutive deliveries at the end of the Cayman Islands' innings, finishing up with impressive match figures of 5 for 14.
Fennell's double hat-trick highlights his status as one of the more formidable bowlers on the international scene. He dismissed the first victim, Troy Taylor, on the third ball of the final over. The next delivery saw him trap Alistair Ifill lbw, reducing the struggling Cayman Islands to 116 for 8. The Argentine cricketer then proceeded to eliminate Ronald Ebanks and Alessandro Morris with the last two balls of the innings, capping off his outstanding performance.
This remarkable bowling performance places Hernan Fennell among elite company. He joins the ranks of notable bowlers such as Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga, Curtis Campher from Ireland, Jason Holder of West Indies, and Waseem Yaqoob from Lesotho, all of whom have achieved the rare double hat-trick milestone in men’s T20I cricket.
Notably, this latest achievement also marks Fennell's second T20I hat-trick. His first came against Panama during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier held back in 2021. Only five other bowlers—Malta’s Waseem Abbas, Australia’s Pat Cummins, Serbia’s Mark Pavlovic, New Zealand’s Tim Southee, and Sri Lanka’s Malinga—have been able to secure multiple hat-tricks across their T20I careers.
While Fennell's bowling heroics were commendable, Argentina's batting unit unfortunately could not capitalize on the momentum. The team fell short during their chase, scoring only 94 runs and losing the match against the Cayman Islands, which posted 116 runs. This reflects the continuous challenges faced by the Argentine side as they seek to advance on the international stage.
Fennell's spectacular double hat-trick not only showcases his individual talent but also serves as a reminder of the potential for South American cricket to make strides on the world stage. His exemplary performance is expected to inspire both upcoming cricketers and fans across the region.
For cricketers and fans alike, Hernan Fennell's achievement is nothing short of historical. It encapsulates the aspirations of cricketers everywhere—to achieve excellence and make their mark on the sport. With more performances like this, the future promises to be bright for both Fennell and Argentine cricket.