Former Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka created history by taking four wickets in four consecutive balls during the last over of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 match. Shanaka’s remarkable spell helped Seattle Orcas defend a modest total and achieve a thrilling nine-run win over Texas Super Kings.
The match was played on Saturday, 5 July at the Knight Riders Cricket Stadium in Pomona. Texas Super Kings chose to bowl first and restricted Seattle Orcas to 121/9. However, Shanaka induced a dramatic collapse as the Faf du Plessis-led side were bowled out for just 112 runs and suffered their third consecutive defeat.
How Dasun Shanaka produced a historic final over for the Seattle Orcas
Texas Super Kings needed 15 runs from the final over and Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Ranjane were at the crease. Ranjane started with a four and then took a single, leaving 10 runs needed off the last four balls.
Dasun Shanaka turned the match with a brilliant slow leg-cutter and dismissed Ferreira. He then had Kelvin Savage caught at long-on, before Adam Milne attempted a big shot and sent the ball past the wicketkeeper for a hat-trick.
Dasun Shanaka completed a brilliant spell by dismissing Amshi de Silva, who was brilliantly caught in the deep by Shimron Hetmyer. He became the first bowler in Major League Cricket history to take four wickets in four consecutive balls.
The former Sri Lankan captain was also named Player of the Match for his match-winning performance and the first hat-trick of his professional career.
WATCH: Four balls that changed the match
Dasun Shanaka brought this one home for the orcas
Texas Super Kings needed just 15 runs in the last over, but Shanaka held them back and achieved the first double hat-trick in Cognizant Major League Cricket history. pic.twitter.com/vN3mkIAmwJ
– Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 6, 2026
It feels amazing to achieve a double hat-trick – Dasun Shanaka happy after historic spell
Dasun Shanaka said he was thrilled after taking the first double hat-trick of his professional career. The former Sri Lanka captain admitted that he knew the final over would be challenging with Donovan Ferreira at the crease.
Dasun Shanaka said, “(Is this your first hat-trick?) Absolutely, actually it is. Yes, in my cricket career. (Do you remember a Sri Lankan player ever getting four out of four before?) Of course, the one and only great Lasith Malinga, my captain. (How does it feel to be the second Sri Lankan to do so?) It feels amazing to get a double hat-trick. It’s a different phase, but really happy.”
“(Were you happy to bowl the last over?) I was having a bad day when we played in San Francisco. So, yes, I knew it would be me or Stoinis at the end. So, after Stoinis had bowled four overs, I was the only one left to bowl the last over. And, Donovan was on strike. He is the kind of player who can finish the game from anywhere. So, happy to get Donovan’s wicket. And, it was just icing on the cake. It was cake. Our bowlers bowled really well.”
Donovan Ferreira scored 22 runs in the first 16 balls and made an important partnership of 43 runs with Shubham Ranjane. Before Shanaka, Texas Super Kings spinner Akeal Hosein was the only bowler to take a hat-trick In Major League Cricket.
Otniel Bartman stars as Seattle Orcas Defender 121
South African fast bowler Otniel Baartman laid the foundation of Seattle Orcas’ victory with a brilliant spell. He dismissed Faf du Plessis, Saiteja Mukkamalla and Wiaan Mulder, leaving Texas Super Kings struggling at 50/4. Bartman also bowled a maiden over and finished with figures of 3/9 from four overs.
Seattle Orcas were first reduced to 15/3 and later slipped to 70/7 after the dismissal of Marcus Stoinis. Cameron Gannon top-scored with 20, while Harmeet Singh returned after retiring hurt and helped Jasdeep Singh add valuable runs in the final over.
For Texas Super Kings, Amshi de Silva took 3 wickets for 15 runs, while Adam Milne took 2 wickets for 10 runs. The win lifted Seattle Orcas to second place in the Major League Cricket points table, while Texas Super Kings remained at the bottom after suffering their fifth defeat in eight matches.
