Unsung Canterbury bowler Will Williams has delivered a stunning hat-trick to snatch an unlikely Super Smash victory over the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve.
The Firebirds seemed to be cruising to the victory target of 149, before medium-pacer Williams took five wickets in a two-over spell.
With three overs left, Wellington needed 23 runs from 18 balls. Canterbury captain Cole McConchie handed the ball to Williams for the first time in the match and he responded with the Kings' third win of the season.
After the top-of-the-table Firebirds added four early runs in the over, Williams,27, struck with his fourth delivery, bowling Fraser Colson for 37, before Lauchie Johns was caught in the deep for a duck next ball.
On the last delivery of the over, Jamie Gibson (13) presented caught-and-bowled chance to Williams, who took a one-handed catch for his hat-trick.
Then, with Wellington needing four runs from the final two balls, Williams took back-to-back wickets to finish with figures of 5/12.
"I've come in late before and bowled the last couple at the death," Williams said afterwards.
"My job is to hit the holes, bowl slower balls, restrict the run rate, exactly like today.
"There were a few nerves heading into the final over, but I was focused on the job."
Williams' hat-trick was the third in the space of 24 hours, after Adelaide Strikers spinner Rashid Khan and Melbourne Stars paceman Haris Rauf both took three wickets in successive balls in the Australian Big Bash on Wednesday.
The Kings remain in finals contention with matches against the Northern Knights and Otago Volts to come, while Firebirds remain atop the standings and in the box seat to host the Grand Final at the Basin Reserve this month.
