India, Feb. 14 -- On this day in 2003, during the ICC Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka faced Bangladesh at Pietermaritzburg. The match, anticipated as a routine encounter, turned historic due to an extraordinary bowling performance by Chaminda Vaas. The left-arm pacer achieved a hat-trick with the first three deliveries of the match, a similar feat achieved by India's Irfan Pathan in Test cricket.

Opening the bowling, Vaas delivered a masterclass in swing and precision:

First ball: Hannan Sarkar was bowled, unable to counter Vaas's inswing

Second ball: Mohammad Ashraful fell to a sharp return catch to Vaas himself

Third ball: Ehsanul Haque edged to Mahela Jayawardene in the slips, completing the hat-trick.

Vaas didn't stop there; with hi...