BBL 2022: Michael Neser rattles Melbourne Renegades with first hat trick of the season

The Melbourne Renegades were eyeing their third consecutive victory in the current edition of the Big Bash League when they took on the Brisbane Heat in Geelong on Wednesday. They were looking well on course for victory after restricting Heat to a par total of 137 runs in the first innings. However, they were blown away by a sensational spell of fast bowling by Michael Neser, who claimed the first hat trick of this season.

Michael Neser, who was called up to the national team for just his second Test match of his career against the Windies, made a dream start to the innings by dismissing Sam Harper on the very first delivery of his spell. He then got rid of Jake Fraser with a teasing outswinger on the final delivery of his first over to push the Renegades on the backfoot.

Things got from bad to worse for the Men in Red after Neser returned to clean up Nic Maddinson on the first delivery of his second over. Jonathan Wells completely misjudged the next ball to see his stumps rattled, handing Neser a sensational hat-trick, the first of the ongoing edition and ninth overall in the history of BBL. The wicket also meant that the veteran Aussie pacer had four wickets to his name in his first eight deliveries of the match.

Andre Russell leads the fightback for the Renegades after Neser's hat trick

The Renegades were on the ropes after losing four wickets without anything substantial on the board. However, the Caribbean brute Andre Russell has initiated the fightback for the Renegades with Australian T20I skipper Aaron Finch at the other end. Brisbane Heat will have to get rid of the dangerous Russell if they wish to register their first win in the ongoing BBL campaign.