A club cricketer who’s new to the game achieved the extraordinary feat of taking all 10 wickets in an innings.
Mohammad Yaseen, 21, only started playing hard-ball cricket after moving to England from Pakistan in May last year.
But that didn’t stop him emulating something that’s been done only three times in the history of Test cricket, by Jim Laker, Anil Kumble and Ajaz Patel.
Yaseen, who’s made just a handful of appearances for Holborough Anchorians, finished with figures of 10-7 as opponents Bearsted were bowled out for 19 in Division 2 of the Kent Village League.
The youngster, who grew up playing tape-ball cricket - cricket with a taped-up tennis ball - was twice on a hat-trick during a devastating six-over spell.
Eight Bearsted batsmen were bowled, with one dismissed lbw and the other caught behind.
“The pitch was so supportive and it was good for the inswing,” said Yaseen, who was introduced to Holborough by a friend.
“I bowled lots of inswing so it helped me create all the wickets I would like. It was a memorable moment for me.
“I’m not a professional. I just came from Pakistan last year where I used to play tape-ball cricket and I’ve just started playing hard-ball cricket.
“It was a bit easier for me to bowl a quicker delivery because in tape-ball you can bowl really fast, so it helped me.
“I’m trying to get as high as I can. If I am able to play high-level cricket, definitely I will.
“I played five games last year and this was my second game this year.
“I was not much good at the beginning but now I just start to target bowling so it’s given me a lot of confidence to get more wickets.”
It took league leaders Holborough just 2.2 overs to complete a 10-wicket victory, with Yaseen remaining humble amid his success.
He said: “Bearsted were all senior than me so I didn’t celebrate much because I respect them. I just act like normal. They all shook hands with me.”
Yaseen operated in tandem with Qais Khan (0-8) whose pressure at the other end also contributed to his success.
Holborough captain Nassar Raja said: “It was a great achievement.
“That’s why I kept the opening bowlers on as Qais kept the pressure on from the other end and the opposition could not get away.
“To captain them was an amazing experience, to be on the field and watch it unfold in front of my eyes.”
