The Hat-Trick Ball That Never Was
There are few moments in cricket that generate quite the same electricity as a bowler steaming in for a hat-trick ball. The crowd holds its breath, the fielders creep in, and the batter — in this case, a number 11 — faces the weight of expectation with nothing to lose. In a dramatic passage of play during The Hundred clash between MI London and SunRisers Leeds, Richard Gleeson found himself in that exact position, only to be denied in the most emphatic fashion imaginable.
Gleeson had been in irresistible form, removing both Zak Crawley and Benny Howell in back-to-back balls to put himself on the brink of a remarkable hat-trick. Everything was set up perfectly — except nobody had told Abrar Ahmed about the script.
Abrar Rewrites the Story
Walking in at number 11, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed is not a name you would typically associate with match-altering batting heroics. Yet as Gleeson ran in with history on his mind, Abrar had the audacity — and the timing — to send the delivery sailing over the boundary rope for six. It was the kind of shot that makes you laugh out loud, cringe for the bowler, and simultaneously applaud the sheer nerve of the batter. The commentary box summed it up perfectly with the line that has since circulated widely: "That's how to treat a hat-trick."
For Gleeson, it was a cruel twist. Two wickets in two balls is a rare and brilliant achievement at any level of the game, let alone in the high-pressure environment of The Hundred. To be denied that crowning moment by the last recognised tail-ender in the lineup will sting for some time.
What It Means for Both Sides
From a tactical standpoint, Gleeson's double strike had done significant damage to SunRisers Leeds' innings before Abrar's intervention. Losing Crawley, who is capable of anchoring a chase or building a competitive total at the top of the order, alongside the experienced Howell in the same over was a severe blow. The fact that a number 11 felt confident enough to swing for the fences on a hat-trick delivery speaks volumes about the situation — there was simply nothing to lose.
For bettors tracking the outright Hundred title race, moments like this serve as a reminder of how fine the margins are in this format. Swings in momentum can shift a team's tournament trajectory in a matter of balls, and those monitoring the title odds should keep a close eye on how both MI London and SunRisers Leeds perform across the remaining fixtures.
A Moment for the Highlight Reels
Gleeson will dust himself down — he remains a formidable weapon for MI London and his ability to take wickets in clusters makes him one of the more dangerous bowlers in the competition. However, it is Abrar Ahmed who will own this particular moment, one that encapsulates everything that makes franchise cricket so wonderfully unpredictable.
In a format designed for entertainment and the unexpected, a tail-ender crunching a hat-trick ball for six ticks every box. Whether you were watching as a neutral, a supporter, or perhaps a rather nervous MI London fan, it was impossible not to enjoy. Cricket, as ever, refuses to follow the plan.
