The Japan Times - Shepherd hat-trick to Samra ton: Five top T20 World Cup performances so far

AFP Sport selects five outstanding individual performances during the group stage.

- Shepherd hat-trick -

West Indies pace bowler Romario Shepherd took the first hat-trick of the tournament as he ripped out Scotland's tail in his team's opening win.

Scotland were in with a chance at 133-5 after 16 overs, chasing 183, when captain Shai Hope tossed the ball to Shepherd.

The result was devastating: Shepherd removed Matthew Cross, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson and Safyaan Sharif for no run in five balls.

Scotland had no way back from 133-9 and Shepherd finished with 5-20 from his three overs.

- Suryakumar power -

India were in deep trouble at 77-6 in their opening group match against the USA before skipper Suryakumar Yadav hit an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls to rescue his team.

Suryakumar rebuilt before unleashing his trademark tumbling scoops, ramps and sweeps in a remarkable innings that had the 35,000 capacity crowd on their feet at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium.

He reached his fifty off 36 balls before launching a late assault, hitting four sixes and 10 fours in all.

Suryakumar was brutal off the final over from Saurabh Netravalkar, hitting two tumbling sixes and two fours as it disappeared for 21 to take India 161-9 which they were able to defend.

- Muzarabani heroics -

Zimbabwe's giant pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani registered his T20 best of 4-17 as they beat Australia in the biggest upset of the group phase.

The 2.03 metres (6ft 8in) Muzarabani extracted pace and bounce from the pitch in Colombo to remove opener Josh Inglis (8) and the dangerous power hitter Tim David for a duck.

Matt Renshaw, on 65, was anchoring Australia's chase when Muzarabani struck again, letting out a roar and flexing his muscles after having the Australian caught at mid-off.

He wasn't finished there and claimed Adam Zampa's wicket as Australia were shot out for 146, a shock result which led to their eventual exit.

- Nissanka's century -

Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka said it was a "dream" to hit the first century of the tournament, which inflicted a second defeat on the 2021 champions Australia.

Nissanka reached his hundred off 52 balls at a packed stadium in Kandy as Sri Lanka comfortably chased down their 182 target with two overs to spare to win by eight wickets.

Nissanka's second T20 international ton was laced with 10 fours as Sri Lanka clinched their Super Eights spot.

- Samra's record -

Canada's 19-year-old opening batsman Yuvraj Samra became the first player from an associate nation to score a T20 World Cup century -- and also the youngest in the history of the tournament.

Named after former India all-round great Yuvraj Singh, the left-hander struck 11 fours and six sixes in scoring 110 in 65 balls against New Zealand, the highest individual knock of the tournament so far.

Canada lost the match but Samra said: "Every single day, I dreamed about scoring a hundred on this stage. To do it here, in my first appearance, and as the youngest player in this World Cup, it's truly a dream come true."

T.Maeda--JT