First, it was Birmingham Bears bowler Hasan Ali, who made headlines on Sunday with his first T20 hat-trick. His exceptional showing carried the team to a brilliant 58 run victory over Derbyshire. The 34-year-old Pakistan paceman has completed three seasons with the Bears. After an under-par IPL, he saved his best for last with a superb 6/23 at Edgbaston, the best bowling figures in BBL history.
Ali put on a breathtaking display and completely changed the dynamic of a rough opening day for the Bears. They suffered defeats in their opening two games against Nottinghamshire and Durham. His comeback from international duty with Pakistan was on June 4. Then, last month, he returned to the team for the first time since his 2021 title-winning season in a home win over Yorkshire. His presence was important too as he got back in the groove fast, improving his game along with the teams’ en route to winning a second straight title.
It wasn’t just with the ball that Hasan Ali showed his tactical intelligence during his match against Derbyshire. After his second wicket, he turned to fellow NZ player Tom Latham and made a plan for the next ball. He said, “When I got two wickets I spoke with Tom Latham and we were making plans for the next ball.”
The strategy worked wonders as Ali bowled the perfect yorker to contribute in his first-ever T20 hat-trick. Reflecting on this achievement, he stated, “He (Aitchison) was standing on the leg side and I said I should go for the yorker and it succeeded and I got my first hat-trick in T20.”
Ali’s extraordinary play as a rookie helped cement his position in the now stacked roster. It served to underscore his dedication to leading a healthy lifestyle. The 28-year-old argues that his success comes down to personal discipline and high standards. “As a professional if you’re eating well and sleeping well and drinking well, you’re fresh and ready to go. As a professional we have to adapt and be very disciplined and take care of our bodies really well,” he explained.
After this victory, Hasan Ali was confident on the Bears’ chances on making it to finals day. His ambition and determination to support the team’s success are beyond doubt. His rich vein of form follows a stunning T20 Blast campaign that saw the young wicketkeeper open the batting.
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