Birmingham Bears' star bowler Hasan Ali has attributed his record-breaking start in the T20 Blast campaign to his disciplined lifestyle and healthy habits. The Pakistan paceman recently achieved his first T20 hat-trick, delivering the Bears' best figures of 6-23 in a crushing 58-run victory over Derbyshire.

The Road to the Hat-Trick

Hasan missed the Bears' initial two defeats but made a triumphant return in Friday's win over Yorkshire, just two days after arriving from international duty with Pakistan. Reflecting on his journey, Hasan shared, "I've played two months of cricket. First, I played international T20, then with the PSL [Pakistan Super League], then the national team, and then I just arrived on June 4 and played two back-to-back games."

The Importance of Discipline

Hasan emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, stating, "As a professional, if you're eating well, sleeping well, and drinking well, you're fresh and ready to go. We have to adapt, be very disciplined, and take care of our bodies really well."

Match Highlights

Against Derbyshire at Edgbaston, Hasan made an immediate impact by removing both David Lloyd and Martin Andersson in his first over. He returned in the 17th over to dismiss Ross Whiteley for 50, followed by Alex Thomson for a first-ball duck, setting up the hat-trick opportunity. "When I got two wickets, I spoke with Tom Latham, and we were making plans for the next ball," Hasan explained. "He (Aitchison) was standing on the leg side, and I said I should go for the yorker, and it succeeded."

A Historic Achievement

Hasan became the fifth Bears bowler to claim a T20 hat-trick, joining the ranks of Jimmy Anyon, Imran Tahir, Keith Barker, and Jeetan Patel. He continued his dominance by bowling Pat Brown with the first ball of his fourth over, securing his fourth wicket in five balls and helping to bowl out Derbyshire for 141.

Looking Ahead

In his third season at Edgbaston, Hasan is determined to lead the Bears to finals day after topping the North Group for the last three seasons but falling at the quarter-final stage each time. "Bears have been playing fantastic cricket in the Blast over the years, and there's a small part we have to do to get past the quarter-finals. We're looking for that this year," he added.

Hasan will face Ravi Bopara, his head coach at PSL side Karachi Kings, when the Bears take on North Group leaders Northants Steelbacks on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Headingley two days later.