Cricket: Central Hawke’s Bay brothers take hat-tricks two weeks apart

Central Hawke's Bay College students Eli Waite (left) and brother Noah Waite scored hat-tricks in their cricket matches in February. Photo / Jo Baker

A hat-trick is a rare cricketing achievement – a bragging right to hold on to for a lifetime.

But for two Central Hawke’s Bay brothers, it’s a case of anything you can do, I can do better.

Central Hawke’s Bay College’s Eli Waite, 14, took his hat-trick on February 11.

His older brother and fellow college student Noah Waite, 15, who had already taken a hat-trick once before, was delighted for him.

Then Noah Waite, in a classic case of big brother one-upping, claimed his second hat-trick on February 25.

Both brothers, who bowl accurate medium pacers, finished with the figures of three wickets for six runs off two overs, two weeks apart.

“It felt awesome to take my first hat-trick,” Eli Waite said.

“I was really happy to get one more than my brother,” Noah Waite said.

Alongside playing T20 for the Central Hawke’s Bay College team, the pair have also represented a mixed Hawke’s Bay age group team and have stepped in to support both the St John’s Colts and Napier Old Boys Marist Saturday teams when needed.

The boys are also active members of the school’s First XI football team.

Central Hawke’s Bay College principal Lance Christiansen said the achievement reflected their hard work.

“It’s a credit to their dedication.

“There is a cricket bat at school in our cabinet [in the photo] with shields for ‘six or more wickets, hat-tricks or more than 100 runs’ dating back to 1993.

“There were five hat-tricks before these two [now seven].”