Anuradha, 33, who is from Bengaluru, became the first woman bowler to achieve this rare feat. Thanks to her record bowling figures of 51 in three overs (3-2-1-5), Germany thrashed Austria by 137 runs at the Seebarn Cricket Ground, Seebarn, Lower Austria.
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Germany now hold an unassailable 4-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
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In men's cricket, Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka (during 50-over World Cup in 2007) and Afghanistan's Rashid Khan (in a T20I against Ireland) have taken four wickets in four balls.
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Batting first, Germany scored 1980 in 20 overs with Christina Gough hitting a century (101 not out off 70 balls with 13 fours). Her opening partner Janet Ronalds made an unbeaten 68 off 60 with six fours. There was not a single six in Germany's innings.
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In reply, Austria were restricted to 619 with German captain and medium pace bowler Anuradha being the wrecker-in-chief. She came on to bowl in the 15th over of the innings and took a hat-trick and made it even more memorable with four in four.
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After bowling two dot balls, Anuradha had Jo-Antoinette Stiglitz caught by Ronalds at first slip for one and then clean bowled her next three victims (Tugce Kazanci, Anisha Nookala and Priya Sabu).
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It was a four-wicket maiden, and Austria was tottering at 407 in 15 overs. Anuradha picked one more wicket, in the 19th over of the innings, getting Harjot Dhaliwal LBW for two.
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Anuradha’s former coach Irfan Sait was elated with her record. “It is a fantastic achievement,” Irfan told Asianet Newsable.
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Recalling her days in Bengaluru, Irfan said, “She was 1213 years when she came to our academy (Karnataka Institute of Cricket). She played for Karnataka Under-16, Under-19 and the senior teams. She has worked hard to help German cricket.”
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Anuradha moved to England for higher studies and later played for Northumberland County there. She completed her PhD in molecular cardiology in Germany. She has also done her Level 2 coaching course. She wasinstrumental in starting a women's club team in Frankfurt.
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Despite her world record, Anuradha did not win the Player-of-the-match award. Her teammate Christina got the honour for her century.
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