[imagesource: Randy Brooks / AFP]

Absolute sheer, unbridled joy.

It was impossible to watch Keshav Maharaj’s hat-trick yesterday without joining in with the on-screen celebrations.

A good friend of mine said he did a lap of his lounge whooping like a madman, and I can relate.

The spinner became the first South African to take a test match hat-trick since Geoff Griffin at Lord’s way back in 1960. The quick bowler was also no-balled 11 times for throwing during that same match, which was the final of his two test matches appearances.

No such worries for Keshav, although he will definitely need to work on his swan dive, which left a great deal to be desired.

In his ninth over, he removed Kieran Powell, Jason Holder, and then Joshua da Silva, via an incredible catch at leg slip from allrounder Wiaan Mulder:

If you’re only interested in reliving the hat-trick ball, this will do the trick:

HAT-TRICK Keshav Maharaj! 💥

He’s only the second South African in history to take three in three in Test cricket.

Unbelievable scenes! #WIvSA pic.twitter.com/36zaMc2prF

— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) June 21, 2021

I love that KG Rabada and Lungi Ngidi enjoyed the moment just as much as the bowler himself.

Image: Randy Brooks / AFP

Speaking after the Proteas had wrapped up a 2-0 series win, their first away from home since beating New Zealand in 2017, Keshav admitted he was a tad fortunate.

Cricinfo reports:

“I probably could have bowled a much better ball than that, but full credit to Wiaan for plucking that catch,” Maharaj said.

“It was a superb reaction catch and whatever Wiaan wants to eat or drink tonight, it will probably be on me.”

Wiaan is a big man. I hope he feasted.

Thankfully, Keshav’s bowling is a great deal more skilled than his singing:

He woke up with a song in his heart this morning. 🎤 🎼 🎶 😅
Way to go Kesh!🔥🔥🔥🤸🏾‍♂️🏏👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽@keshavmaharaj16 #hattrick #WIvSA pic.twitter.com/K1socYnqGR

— Sipokazi Sokanyile (@sipokazis86) June 21, 2021

That’s Keegan Petersen alongside him, and the two are good mates:

“We’re just having some fun. There are long days and hard days of Test cricket, so it’s nice to have a vent before you go onto the field and keep the buzz going into the changeroom, but I don’t think I am entering Idols anytime soon,” Maharaj said.

“Keegs and I play a lot of cricket together at home. We enjoy each other’s company, talking nonsense and singing nonsense.”

Attention now turns towards the shorter formats, with five T20s starting on Saturday.

[source:cricinfo]