Dasun Shanaka: delivered one of the most spectacular finishes in Cognizant Major League Cricket history, claiming the tournament’s first ever double hat-trick to help the Seattle Orcas fend off a modest total and seal a thrilling nine-run victory over the Texas Super Kings. Defending just 121, the Orcas looked under intense pressure as Texas entered the final needing 15 runs. However, Shanaka produced a memorable spell under pressure, dismissing four batters in four successive deliveries to secure victory from the visitors. After Shubham Ranjane, who top scored for Texas, started on top with a boundary and a single, the equation fell to 10 runs off the last four balls. Shanaka then took over completely. His first victim was Donovan Ferreira, whose stumps were crushed by a well-disguised leg-cutter. Calvin Savage followed soon after, miscued a slower delivery straight to Shimron Hetmyer at long-on. Adam Milne departed with Texas still needing 10 runs from two balls. Shanaka stuck to his differences, driving a side behind the wicket to complete a hat-trick. The drama is not over yet. Facing the last ball, Amshi de Silva tried a big hit even though the match was out of reach. He miscued the shot to long-on, where Hetmyer completed the catch to give Shanaka his fourth wicket in four balls, completing the first double hat-trick in Major League Cricket history and securing a memorable victory for Seattle. The low-scoring encounter was dominated by the bowlers from the start. After fielding first, Texas reduced the Orcas to 44/4 before another collapse left them struggling at 70/7 in the 13th over. Early wickets saw Tim Seifert, Matthew Breetzke and Shayan Jehangir dismissed in the Powerplay, while Marcus Stoinis‘ departure further hurt Seattle’s hopes of posting a competitive mark. Harmeet Singh and Cameron Gannon continued the innings with a valuable 31-run partnership before contributions from the lower order, including Shanaka’s 16 runs, lifted the Orcas to 121/9. Texas started the chase positively by Faf du Plessisbut the momentum quickly shifted. Ottneil Baartman produced a remarkable spell, removing Du Plessis and Saiteja Mukkamalla before returning to dismiss Wiaan Mulder during a wicket-maiden. He finished with outstanding figures of 3 for 9, while Adam Milne had earlier starred with the ball by conceding just 10 runs in his four overs and taking two wickets. Although Ranjane kept Texas in the contest and Ferreira’s late boundary and six in the penultimate over reduced the target to 15 from the last six deliveries, Shanaka’s masterclass in slow balls and cutters ensured that the Orcas crossed the finish line. His spectacular finish not only clinched victory for Seattle but also etched his name in the record books of Major League Cricket with a historic double hat-trick.