Irfan Pathan did accomplish the unique feat of achieving a hat trick off the very first over of the Test match on 29 January 2006, in the ongoing Test series between India and Pakistan, while playing on the third Test.
At the National Stadium of Karachi, the left-arm pacer effectively turned the tide for the visitors with the first over of the innings. Even after the pathos sponsors of Pakistan went on to win, the Test was comfortably won by 341 runs.
The first toss was won by India skipper Rahul Dravid, who chose to field first. This turned out to be a brilliant decision, as Pathan delivered the best over of his career without conceding a run. The victim was Salman Butt.whom Dravid caught out of the fourth ball.
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Next was Younis Khan, the then captain of Pakistan. He also failed to score a run. Younis Khan was out leg before wicket off the second last delivery of the first over. The hat-trick ball was next on the list for Mohammad Yousuf. Pathan had the time of his life, sending Yousuf back to the dressing room on a duck. Pathan thus became only the second Indian bowler after Harbhajan Singh to bag the illustrious hat-trick in Tests.
At three for none, Pakistan was in a tight spot. Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal stabilized the ship with a gutsy 113, keeping the hosts a decent distance away.
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The batsmen Razzaq and Shoaib Akhtar put in 45 runs each. Pakistan ended their first innings, scoring 245 runs.
In reply, India scored 238 runs in the first innings.
In the next innings, Irfan Pathan took another wicket, forcing Pakistan to declare with a gigantic total of 599 for 7 wickets. India marched into the second innings, chasing down a target of 607 runs. Abdul Razzaq became the standout performer for Pakistan rattling 4 Indian batters to bowl out India for 265 in their second innings.
