In the SA20 2025–26 season, Lungi Ngidi created history by taking the league’s first-ever hat trick, while Ottneil Baartman followed with a five-wicket haul for Paarl Royals against Pretoria Capitals, earning the Player of the Match award.
Batting-friendly conditions and pressure situations make SA20 hat-tricks rare. South Africa’s top domestic T20 league, SA20, has quickly become one of the most thrilling franchise tournaments, delivering explosive batting, outstanding bowling spells, and memorable moments for fans in its brief history. In this article, we highlight the players who have scored hat-tricks in SA20.
SA20 Hat Tricks List: Players Who Made History
The table below lists all bowlers who have registered hat-tricks in SA20 history, along with their match details.
| Season | Bowler | Team | Opponent | Date | Venue | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Lungi Ngidi | Pretoria Capitals | Durban Super Giants | Jan 7, 2026 | Kingsmead, Durban | David Wiese, Sunil Narine, Gerald Coetzee |
| 2025-26 | Ottneil Baartman | Paarl Royals | Pretoria Capitals | Jan 15, 2026 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | Andre Russell, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi |
Hat-tricks in the SA20 League represent moments of exceptional bowling brilliance in a format dominated by aggressive batting. Taking three wickets in three consecutive deliveries is a rare achievement that can instantly change the course of a match.
1. Lungi Ngidi
Protean pacer Lungi Ngidi etched his name into the history books by becoming the first bowler to claim a hat trick in SA20. The 29-year-old, representing Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 2025–26 season, achieved this milestone in a clash against Durban’s Super Giants. Ngidi’s magical spell came in the 17th over, where he struck on 17.2 (c Cox b Ngidi), 17.3 (c Esterhuizen b Ngidi), and 17.4 (c Brevis b Ngidi), registering the first-ever #BetwaySA20 hat trick.
Across his SA20 career so far, Ngidi has taken 33 wickets in 33 matches at an economy rate of 8.80, highlighting his consistency and impact in the league. His historic spell remains one of the most memorable bowling moments in SA20, setting a high benchmark for future seasons.
2. Ottneil Baartman
SA20’s all-time leading wicket-taker Ottneil Baartman continued his remarkable run by becoming only the second bowler to claim a hat trick in the league’s history. The 32-year-old right-arm medium-fast bowler, representing Paarl Royals in the SA20 2025–26 season, achieved the milestone on Friday, January 16, in a crucial match against the Pretoria Capitals.
Baartman delivered a decisive spell in the 19th over, striking on 19.1 (c Raza b Baartman), 19.2 (b Baartman), and 19.3 (c & b Baartman). His sensational hat trick not only underlined his dominance with the ball but also played a key role in helping Paarl Royals secure a playoff berth, further cementing his legacy in SA20 history.
What Makes Hat Tricks So Rare In SA20?
These factors show why people celebrate hat-tricks in SA20 as special moments rather than regular occurrences.
- Batting-friendly pitches that favor aggressive stroke play
- High run rates and short boundaries, leaving minimal margin for error
- Deep batting line-ups, reducing the exposure of tail-enders
- Impact Player rule, strengthening batting depth in crucial phases
- Death-over pressure, where bowlers must attack while controlling runs
When a bowler overcomes these challenges to take three wickets in three balls, it reflects exceptional skill, precision, and composure under pressure, making such achievements truly memorable in the league’s history.
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Conclusion – Lungi Ngidi Claimed SA20’s First Hat Trick In SA20!
Each hat trick in SA20 has played a crucial role in shifting momentum and putting teams under pressure. As the league grows each season, more world-class bowlers join this elite list, enriching SA20’s legacy of unforgettable cricketing moments.
Hat-tricks in SA20 have often been decisive moments, significantly benefiting the teams involved. Pretoria Capitals gained a significant advantage when Lungi Ngidi claimed the first-ever SA20 hat trick, triggering a late collapse and swinging momentum firmly in their favor.
Similarly, Paarl Royals benefited immensely from Ottneil Baartman’s hat trick, which came at a crucial stage of the match and played a key role in securing a playoff berth for the franchise.
FAQs
Lungi Ngidi became the first bowler to take a hat trick in SA20 during the 2025–26 season while playing for Pretoria Capitals against Durban Super Giants.
So far, two hat tricks have been recorded in SA20 history, both achieved during the 2025–26 edition.
Ottneil Baartman is the latest bowler to claim an SA20 hat trick, achieving the feat for Paarl Royals against Pretoria Capitals.
Yes, Ottneil Baartman earned the Player of the Match award for his five-wicket haul, which included a hat trick.
Hat tricks are rare due to batting-friendly pitches, high scoring rates, deep batting line-ups, and death-over pressure in the fast-paced T20 format.
