Watch: Chris Jordan takes four wickets in five balls at T20 World Cup – here’s how he did it

Chris Jordan spent his first 16 years in Barbados. Returning to his old home, Jordan delivered a historic over for England in their Twenty20 World Cup match against the United States; in fact, it was so perfect that he only needed five balls.

Ball one: Corey Anderson c Brook b Jordan 29

Jordan could not quite locate the yorker, the delivery that has underpinned his fine career as a death bowler in T20. Instead, he produced a low full toss, which Corey Anderson mistimed, picking out Harry Brook at long on.

Ball two: Dot

US number nine Ali Khan swiped at a length ball just outside his off stump. It missed his edge, and the off stump.

Ball three: Ali Khan b Jordan 0

A similar delivery to the previous ball – only, this time, Jordan found more seam movement. Too quick and too good for Khan, the ball thudded into his stumps.

Ball four: Nosthush Kenjige lbw b Jordan 0

Jordan saw no need to change his template, once again bowling a full length and tailing the ball back into the right-hander. The only difference in this delivery was that Nosthush Kenjige at least managed to get his leg in the way of the ball. It was a simple lbw decision; Kenjige’s review was merely perfunctory before walking off for a golden duck.

Ball five: Saurabh Netravalkar b Jordan 0

A similar delivery – full but short of yorker length – which jagged back into the batsman. Netravalkar had no riposte; his middle stump lay in a mess on the floor. Jordan was delirious as he celebrated his hat-trick, engulfed by the entire England side.

Jordan is normally overshadowed by his brilliant friend, another Barbados-born quick bowler. Not this time. After Jordan’s hat-trick, an ecstatic Jofra Archer lifted Jordan off his feet.

The recall of Jordan to the squad was among England’s most debated selection decisions in the T20 World Cup.

After playing against Scotland and Australia at the start of the tournament, Jordan was dropped, recalled to play Namibia and then dropped again. His stunning feat of death bowling – four wickets in five balls, to end with 5-10 and put England on track for a semi-final berth – illustrated why, at a crunch time in the tournament, England turned to him again.

“It is an unbelievable feeling,” Jordan said. “To do it at a special place like this is always nice.

“I’ve been on a hat-trick a couple of times before but got it wrong so I’m just glad I was able to do it.”

Yet Jordan might be able to celebrate an even more memorable moment in his home island by the end of next week. Two years ago, Jordan lifted the T20 World Cup at one of the cathedrals of cricket, the Melbourne Cricket Ground. On Saturday, he could help England regain their crown at another of the game’s greatest venues, the Kensington Oval.

Jordan revels in ‘special day’

Chris Jordan reflected on a “special day” in Barbados where he grabbed England’s first Twenty20 hat-trick and fired them into the semi-finals in front of his family and friends at the Kensington Oval.

England became the first team to reach the last four despite their patchy form, by Jordan setting up a hammering of the United States. Jordan lived in Barbados until he was 16.

He went to Combemere School with West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite and two of their current T20 side, Roston Chase and Shai Hope. Pop megastar Rihanna was a fellow pupil too. He left for Britain when he was spotted by former England batsman Bill Athey who arranged a scholarship at Dulwich College, where he was cricket coach.

Jordan’s parents, sister, brother-in-law and nephew were in the crowd at the Kensington Oval to see him mark his recall to the side with four wickets in five balls, including a hat-trick to end the United States innings, setting up England’s ten wicket win.

“To get that hat-trick in the place I was born and have played so much cricket, in front of my family and friends, the atmosphere, the music going – a nice day. It was special,” said Jordan. “My family doesn’t get to travel the world and watch me play international cricket. To do it in front of them is right up there, and in a World Cup game to make sure we qualify. Mum, dad, sister, brother-in-law, nephew were all here. My nephew called me and told me to take three wickets, and you want to be a role model. Maybe one day he will be out here jumping up and down and doing the same thing.”

There has been nothing but pride and generosity from the Bajan crowds towards Jordan and Jofra Archer at this World Cup. The Prime Minister even gave their old schools the day off to watch them play the opening game against Scotland and Jordan said he “first fell in love” with cricket when he was a child and watched England play West Indies at the Kensington Oval.

Jordan was dropped for the two Super Eight games against West Indies and South Africa but the slow pitches suit his variations better than the sheer pace of Mark Wood, who was left out for this game. Jordan lengthens the batting too and with slow surfaces expected for the rest of the tournament, he can expect to keep his place as long as England remain in the World Cup.

“First part of the job done. When we left England a few weeks ago, we left to defend the title. There have been a few bumps along the way, but they’ve been good bumps, because they narrowed the focus and made our direction clear,” said Jordan, who was part of England’s Twenty20 World Cup winning team two years ago. “The dressing-room has a lot of experience. We’ve had some really good chats. The scenarios we’ve found ourselves in, getting our run-rates up and dominate games, has given us some clear direction.”

England will not know whether they are going to Trinidad or Guyana for their semi-final later this week until the completion of group one on Monday night. England are just happy to still be standing after so many close scrapes over an up-and-down three weeks. “You just want to get through,” said Jos Buttler, the England captain. “It has been a tough tournament, we have seen close games, some upsets, we scraped through to the Super Eight, now we are through to the semis so we keep ticking the right boxes and now it is anyone’s game from here on in.”