Gloucestershire’s Tom Price has become the first cricketer in first-class history to score a century and take a hat-trick on the same day, achieving the rare feat against Worcestershire in the County Championship on Thursday.
The 23-year-old scored 109 (98) and claimed three wickets in consecutive deliveries on day one of the red-ball contest at Worcester’s New Road to rescue Gloucestershire and put the visitors in a commanding position at stumps.
Watch every match of the 2023 IPL LIVE & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
After Gloucestershire captain Graeme van Buuren won the toss and elected to bat first, Price walked out at No. 9 in the morning session with his team in dire straits at 7-45 in the 22nd over.
Earlier, Gloucestershire opener Marcus Harris, who was named in Australia’s Ashes squad this week, was trapped LBW by Worcestershire seamer Joe Leach for 1 to leave his side reeling at 4-8 in the seventh over.
However, Price quickly swung momentum back in Gloucestershire’s favour by smacking 12 boundaries and four sixes on his way towards a maiden first-class century, helping the team post a respectable 231 in the first innings.
The right-hander combined with Gloucestershire No. 11 Ajeet Dale for a crucial 81-run partnership for the tenth wicket before the centurion was run out at the non-striker’s end in unlucky circumstances, with Worcestershire part-timer Matthew Waite deflecting a straight drive back into the stumps.
Dale finished unbeaten on 22 while Leach was the pick of the Worcestershire bowlers, claiming 4-49 from 16 overs.
In response, Worcestershire openers Ed Pollock and Jake Libby combined for a 58-run partnership before Price began wreaking havoc with the Dukes ball, taking a hat-trick during his second spell of the afternoon.
Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, Jack Haynes and Worcestershire captain Brett D’Oliveira all edged behind to Gloucestershire wicketkeeper James Bracey in the 19th over, each departing for a duck.
Worcestershire went from 1-59 to 4-59 in less than five minutes, with Price later dismissing Pollock as well for 34, also caught by Bracey.
“It’s a bit surreal,” Price told BBC Sport.
“It won’t sink in for a while. I’ll wake up in five minutes and it will all feel like a dream.
“I don’t really know what to say. It has been an amazing day. I’m pretty tired, but pretty delighted.
“I’m really happy to have contributed. It was tricky out there, but we tried to be positive while still having a tight defence and waited for the ball to get softer later on. I just kept it simple.”
The hosts were 7-118 at stumps, still trailing Gloucestershire by 113 runs.
READ MORE
‘IT’S IMPOSSIBLE’: Labuschagne unveils secret weapon
ASHES ANALYSIS: Dramatic trend could spell trouble for Aussie lefties
WINNERS AND LOSERS: Marsh exile ends amid brutal snubs
‘WE’LL WAIT AND SEE’: Warner’s Ashes hopes dangle by a thread
Price, who finished the day with 4-38 from nine overs, became the 15th first-class cricketer to score a century and take a hat-trick in the same match. Former South African all-rounder Mike Procter and Bangladesh spinner Sohag Gazi are the only cricketers to achieve the rare feat on multiple occasions.
It was the second hat-trick of Price’s first-class career, having snared three wickets in consecutive deliveries against Kent in the County Championship last June.
Price has taken 58 wickets at 20.79 for Gloucestershire since making his first-class debut in 2020, when he was dismissed for a pair, coincidentally against Worcestershire.
Earlier this season, the right-armed seamer claimed six wickets and scored an unbeaten half-century against Glamorgan in Gloucestershire’s season opener in Cardiff.
