Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan all-rounder, etched his name in Major League Cricket (MLC) history by claiming four wickets in four consecutive deliveries for the Seattle Orcas against the Texas Super Kings on July 6, 2026. The remarkable feat, the first of its kind in MLC history, propelled the Orcas to a dramatic victory in a low-scoring encounter at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas.
Shanaka's Historic Spell
Shanaka, bowling the 18th over of the innings, dismissed Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Milind Kumar, and Calvin Savage off successive balls. Du Plessis was caught at deep mid-wicket, Miller was trapped lbw, Kumar was bowled, and Savage edged to the wicketkeeper. The hat-trick ball was a yorker that uprooted Kumar's off stump.
The over turned the match on its head. The Super Kings, chasing a modest target of 136, were cruising at 110 for 3 before Shanaka's intervention. They eventually fell short by 12 runs, bowled out for 123 in 19.4 overs.
Match Summary
Earlier, the Orcas posted 135 for 7 in their 20 overs, with opener Nauman Anwar top-scoring with 34 off 28 balls. For the Super Kings, Marcus Stoinis took 3 for 22. In reply, the Super Kings were well-placed at 110 for 3 in the 17th over, but Shanaka's burst triggered a collapse. He finished with figures of 4 for 21 in 3.4 overs.
"I just focused on hitting the right lengths and got the breakthroughs," Shanaka said after the match. "The team needed it, and I'm happy to contribute."
Historical Context
Shanaka's achievement is rare in T20 cricket. Only a handful of bowlers have taken four wickets in four balls in professional T20 leagues, including Lasith Malinga and Rashid Khan. In MLC, it is the first such instance.
The win boosted the Orcas' playoff hopes, moving them to third in the standings. The Super Kings, meanwhile, slipped to fifth.
