Mohammad Abbas blitzes Middlesex with hat-trick and 17-ball five-wicket haul on home debut for Hampshire

Abbas's hat-trick is the first in first-class cricket at the Ageas Bowl since 2015, when Chris Rushworth of Durham ran through the Hampshire order

Scorecard

Mohammad Abbas made a stunning start to his home Hampshire debut with the first hat-trick of the county season.

Abbas tore into the Middlesex top order to leave the visitors reeling in the morning session on day two at the Ageas Bowl.

The Pakistani struck with his fifth ball of the match, enticing Max Holden into an edge to third slip where Joe Weatherley took a comfortable catch.

With his next delivery, Abbas's inswinger pinned Nick Gubbins lbw, before with the first ball of his second over he encouraged a faint nick from Stevie Eskinazi, with Lewis McManus gobbling up the chance.

Abbas continued his reign of terror by completing a first Hampshire five-for inside 17 balls of his spell, as the home side established a commanding position.

Remarkably Hampshire bowlers have now taken first-class hat-tricks in three of the past four seasons.

James Fuller completed the feat against Surrey at Arundel in the Bob Willis Trophy last year, while Kyle Abbott took three wickets in as many balls against Worcestershire at New Road in 2018.

Abbas's hat-trick is the first in first-class cricket at the Ageas Bowl since 2015, when Chris Rushworth of Durham ran through the Hampshire order.

HOW ABBAS DESTROYED MIDDLESEX'S TOP ORDER

2-1 (1.5 overs): Abbas over the wicket, sliding across the left-handed Holden, who collapses a little into a half-hearted forward defence and can only find Weatherley at third slip.

2-2 (1.6 overs): Gubbins, open-stanced, gets a straight one from Abbas first up. The No.3 is late on the shot, the ball rattling his back pad stuck in front of middle and leg. Up goes the umpire's finger.

8-3 (3.1 overs): Four slips waiting for Abbas to the right-handed Eskinazi. He doesn't need any of them: a pinch of movement off the seam is enough to tempt Middlesex's stand-in captain. McManus does the rest. Hat-trick.

14-4 (5.3 overs): White, six balls faced and yet to get off the mark. Abbas, over the wicket to the right-hander. It's the inswinger and White plays the wrong line. It's hitting middle and leg halfway up. An easy decision for the umpire.

14-5 (5.5 overs): Andersson facing Abbas. He goes back to a ball he really ought to have leant well forward to, and it's knocked him off balance as it strikes the back pad. Abbas has five.

Subscribe today and receive The Cricketer’s centenary issue – six issues for £19.21. Click here