I didn’t expect it at this level: Mrittunjoy

20-year-old Mrittunjoy Chowdhury of Chattogram Challengers became just the sixth bowler to notch a hattrick in BPL history to help his side down Sylhet Sixers in a high-scoring affair at Chattogram's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium today. He also became just the second player to bag a hattrick on BPL debut after Aliss Al Islam.

Mrittunjoy also became just the third bowler form Bangladesh behind pacer Mohammad Al Amin and Aliss. Al Amin achieved the feat in 2015 while Aliss got his hattrick in 2019. The three foreign stars to bag a BPL hattrick are Mohammad Sami (2012), Wahab Riaz (2019) and Andre Russell (2019).

Will Jacks and Benny Howell's stormy knocks saw Chattogram post 202 for five after being sent it to bat. Sylhet came out firing with the bat and Anamul Haque Bijoy and Colin Ingram put together a 112-run partnership before the latter departed. Bijoy kept Sylhet's hopes alive and with 49 needed from three overs, Mrittunjoy came in to bowl. Anamul dispatched the first two deliveries for six and a four respectively before there was some discussion between the bowler and captain regarding the side they were going to target. Mrittunjoy came around the wicket after the initial boundaries and turned the game on its head.

When it looked like Anamul might find a huge over by putting more pressure on Mrittunjoy, the youngster came up with a reply. The left-arm paceman bagged the all-important wicket of the Anamul with a half-volley as Anamul found the fielder at cover, out after a 47-ball 78. Next delivery, Mrittunjoy bowled another full one and this time Mosaddek Hossain skewed one to point. Then Mrittunjoy got the best delivery in, a yorker at the base of the stump to castle Ravi Bopara and complete his hattrick.

The youngster found confidence from his ability to execute the yorkers in his earlier spell to revive the situation.

"To tell you the truth, I wasn't nervous at first and in my first over the execution was good. So, there was no pressure at the beginning. I had confidence that since in my first two overs the yorkers were landing well, the yorkers would land well at the end overs too. Captain gave me a plan to bowl yorkers stump to stump. In the first delivery it didn't happen but I tried and in the next few deliveries, the yorker happened and it worked."

Mrittunjoy, just like any other 20-year-old, did not expect something like this to happen in his very first BPL match.

"Every player has a dream of five wickets and a hattrick and I didn't expect it at this level in my first game but since the execution was good, one can call it an achievement."