Dolphins all-rounder Robbie Frylinck was ecstatic with his maiden RamSlam T20 Challenge hat trick against the Warriors at St George’s Park on Sunday.
Frylinck, who was recently capped by the Proteas in T20 international cricket after years of yeoman service for the Dolphins, claimed only the third hat trick in the history of domestic franchise T20 cricket.
Former Titans paceman Ethy Mbhalati claimed the first T20 hat trick, while Cobras swing bowler Charl Langeveldt has the other.
Frylinck’s first victim was the explosive Christiaan Jonker. The Warriors right-hander was in a rampant mood on Sunday, but edged behind the first ball of the 19th over to wicket-keeper Dane Vilas, who took a good diving one-handed catch to this right.
The umpires called for a television referral, which confirmed it was a clean dismissal.
There was no doubt about the second wicket, with Frylinck rifling in a straight yorker that smashed into Sisanda Magala’s stumps to send the Warriors seamer back to the pavilion for a duck.
The hat trick was achieved when Frylinck found the outside edge of Andrew Birch’s bat, and Dolphins captain Khaya Zondo held his nerve to take a comfortable catch in the covers.
It set off raucous celebrations from Frylinck, who had earlier virtually begged umpire Siphelele Gasa for an lbw decision against Colin Ingram, only to be turned down.
“I didn’t think I was ever going to get a wicket, but we have our plans and it just came off,” Frylinck said.
“It was a great catch by Dane, you have to thank him for that, he started it off. It turned the momentum a bit, which puts us in a good position to go out and bat.”
Frylinck was particularly pleased with the dismissal of the dangerous Jonker for 59.
“He has been smashing the bowlers around for years and years and being doing a fantastic job. To get him out was a bonus for us, and a big wicket. It put us in a good place,” the Proteas all-rounder added.
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