This bowler took 4 wickets in 4 balls twice in international cricket, became immortal in the pages of history.

New Delhi: Many great bowlers have come and gone in cricket, but Sri Lanka's legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga stands out for a special reason. The Sri Lankan fast bowler is the only player in international cricket who has taken four wickets in four consecutive balls not once but twice. This difficult feat shows why he is one of the best bowlers in the history of the game.

Did wonders for the first time against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup.
Lasith Malinga took four wickets in four balls for the first time in the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup 2007 against South Africa. In this match, South Africa needed only four runs to win and had five wickets left. After this Malinga worked his magic and Malinga took 4 wickets in 4 balls.

Lasith Malinga (IANS Photo)

1. Shaun Pollock – bowled out with a fast yorker.
2. Andrew Hall – Another excellent yorker hit the stumps
3. Jacques Kallis – Wide ball to the wicketkeeper.
4. Makhaya Ntini – clean bowled with another tremendous yorker.

Despite this excellent performance, Sri Lanka lost the match by one wicket, but Malinga's spell was recorded in the pages of history. This was the first time in ODI cricket when a bowler took four wickets in four balls.

Created a ruckus against New Zealand in T20 match for the second time in 2019
Malinga repeated this feat after 12 years in T20 against New Zealand in 2019. While defending the small score of 125 runs, Malinga destroyed New Zealand's batting order with another incredible spell. In the third over of the match, Malinga dismissed Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Colin de Grandhomme and Ross Taylor in 2 consecutive overs, bringing the visiting team to 15/4 in 3 overs.

1. Colin Munro – bowled out on a swimming delivery
2. Hamish Rutherford – LBW on a fast yorker.
3. Colin de Grandhomme – another LBW on the inswinging ball.
4. Ross Taylor – The ball went into the wicketkeeper's hand on a full delivery.

His spell reduced New Zealand to 15/4 and Sri Lanka won the match. Apart from this, this 36-year-old player also became the first bowler to take 100 wickets in T20 international cricket.

Lasith Malinga retired in 2021 and left behind many records and memories. He finished his career with 338 ODI wickets, 101 T20 wickets and 101 Test wickets. Malinga's talent shows why he is called one of the best bowlers of all time and a true match-winner. He will always be known as the king of four-in-four.