Experienced Black Caps seamer Chris Martin's impressive record against South Africa just got a whole lot better.
The wiry 37-year-old took three wickets in four balls on the opening day of the first test in Dunedin yesterday.
Among his victims were his old mates Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis. Incredibly, Martin has now dismissed Smith seven times in test cricket and Kallis on six occasions.
They have the dubious honour of being No 1 and No 2 on his list of test scalps.
Before yesterday's effort, he had taken 44 South African wickets at an average of 24.59 runs and added to that tally with three for 34 from 14 overs.
Smith was the first to go. He had been a commanding presence at the wicket but hit a drive straight to Rob Nicol in the covers.
That wicket triggered a collapse with Martin nicking out Kallis in his next over and trapping AB de Villiers lbw for a first-ball duck.
Jacques Rudolph survived the "worst hat trick ball ever" .
Well, at least that is how Daniel Vettori described it when he taunted Martin about it afterwards.
"I didn't want to bowl one on the hip, but I did," Martin said.
"I think Dan said 'worst hat trick ball ever'. I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted to do with it but didn't quite nail it. That's life."
Martin had not been that effective with the ball in the first session but emerged from the tea break with more energy and bowled a better length.
"I can't really put my finger on what changed. I was probably a bit more geed up for that session. We did not operate all that well in the first session. It was time to stand up and get the ball in the right areas."
