The hat-trick is a dream for any bowler.
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But claiming a double hat-trick? That will remain a far fetched fantasy for almost everyone.
Not for former Orange City top grader Adrian Mielke though, who’s now playing for ORC in Bathurst District Cricket Association’s second grade competition.
In the opening day of his Bathurst District Cricket Association match against Bushrangers on Saturday he wrapped up the innings with four wickets in as many deliveries.
Bushrangers had been sitting in a dominant position of 5-243 at George Park 1 before ORC’s Clint Bryant claimed the key wicket of Marcus Turnbull for 84, with Mielke taking the catch.
Little did Mielke know that he was about to make a much bigger impact on the Bushrangers innings during the very next over.
He had Teunor Slabber (32) clean bowled then removed Ben Berger with an identical delivery to set up the hat-trick opportunity.
Mielke, who had never achieved a hat-trick in his life, made it three in a row when Jake White was caught by Justin Stephenson.
The magic moment became something even more spectacular for Mielke when on the final ball of his over he had Tristan Merkel trapped in front LBW.
Bushrangers lost their last five wickets without adding to their total.
“I never thought it would happen to me. To get a double was pretty good,” Mielke said.
“I just try and bowl variation and I thought I might try and bowl an off cutter and sure enough it cut a little bit into the batsman, he missed it and I bowled him.
“I thought ‘May as well give that a go again’ and it worked four times in a row.
“There was a catch off Clint’s over and those two blokes had been batting for an hour and you start thinking to yourself that this day’s never going to end.”
It adds onto what’s been an enjoyable season for the Tigers, whose lack of a first grade side has been to the benefit of second grade’s fortunes.
ORC have lost just one game to sit second on the ladder – a big turnaround after not winning a single match across the 2017-18 season.
“It’s been very enjoyable. To have that turnaround and be sitting second is great. Makes Saturdays that bit more meaningful,” Mielke said.
“The great thing is we’re managing to score 200-plus with a degree of regularity, which was a big issue for us in the past.”
ORC will resume the second week at 1-7.