Lancashire quick removes arch-rivals' star-studded trio of Root, Williamson and Bairstow in successive deliveries
County seamer takes astonishing hat-trick
Little-known county seamer Jordan Clark has dismissed three of the world's best batsmen in one of the most memorable domestic hat-tricks taken in recent times.
In their four-day 'Roses' clash with Lancashire, fierce rivals Yorkshire batted first boasting the imposing middle order of England Test captain Joe Root at three, his New Zealand counterpart Kane Williamson at four and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow at five.
FOLLOW LIVE: Yorkshire v Lancashire
It's the kind of line-up County Championship fans would have been salivating over, but Clark removed all three in as many balls in an astonishing display of bowling.
Well worth another watch of this...Root ✅Williamson ✅Bairstow ✅As hat-tricks go, this was pretty useful! 🙌 👏🌹 #RedRoseTogether pic.twitter.com/snXsjZ1DfY%E2%80%94 Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) July 22, 2018
The right-armer, bowling second change after Jimmy Anderson's wicketless opening spell, trapped the International Cricket Council's third and fourth-ranked Test batters lbw in consecutive deliveries, with Root departing for a brisk 22 and Williamson for a golden duck.
Image Id: 16117035D47A46CAA5FF540D3009CB08 Image Caption: Clark and Jos Buttler celebrate the wicket of Root // GettyBairstow, the world's top-ranked gloveman on the Test batting charts, then edged to Jos Buttler in the slips cordon as Lancashire erupted into frenzied celebrations.
Clark is in his fourth season at Lancashire and had taken 70 wickets at 36.74 before Sunday's match against the star-studded Yorkshire side.
Clark finished with a career-best haul of 5-58, and also ran out Tim Bresnan at the non-striker's end after getting a hand on a straight drive by Adam Lyth.
A memory ill never forget, thanks for all the messages and support- a huge day ahead #liquorice🌹 @lancsccc @ Old Trafford Cricket Ground https://t.co/x2IxsCtbz4%E2%80%94 Jordan Clark (@Clarksy16) July 22, 2018
His efforts helped dismiss Yorkshire for 192, but Lancashire's batsmen were unable to cash in, the home side dismissed for just 109, albeit without the services of captain Liam Livingstone who had fractured a thumb attempting a slips catch in the first innings.
Many of England’s Test regulars are playing this round of county games as they tune up for the first Test against India on August 1 at Edgbaston.
Jordan Clark's hat-trick for Lancs v Yorks today is the 1st in first-class cricket in which all 3 victims (Root, Williamson, Bairstow) had each made 3000+ Test career runs at the time.
%E2%80%94 Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) July 22, 2018
Along with Anderson, Buttler, Root and Bairstow, the likes of Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Dawid Malan (Middlesex) and Chris Woakes (Warwickshire) are all featuring.