Imran Khan, Contributor

Jerome Taylor (right) of the West Indies celebrates with teammate Dwayne Smith after dismissing Australia's captain Ricky Ponting during a match in the ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament in Mumbai yesterday. - reuters

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who turned in a stellar performance to guide the West Indies to a 10-run victory over world champions Australia, stunningly revealed that he did not realise he got a hat-trick until after the game was over.

"Actually I did not even realise that I got a hat trick until after the game when it was brought to my attention just before an interview," the right arm quick said.

Taylor seemed surprised when television commentator Laxman Shivaramakrishnan asked him how he felt about getting a hat-trick immediately after the Windies stunning victory at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.

Prestigious feeling

Shivaramakrishnan then further told Taylor that he was also the first bowler to pick up a hat trick for the West Indies in One-Day Internationals.

"I was so focused on ensuring that we win the game and that I bowl the ball in the right areas that it did not even occur to me or any of my teammates," Taylor said with a smile of satisfaction.

"We all just wanted to win so badly," Taylor added.

"It's a very prestigious feeling," is how he described the honour of being the first and only West Indian to have taken a hat-trick in One-Day Internationals.

"As the first West Indian fast to get a hat trick in a one day game, it is very special, and as a fast bowler to get a hat trick on this wicket, I feel pretty pleased about it," said the 22-year-old who took 4 for 49 to seal the Windies victory.

His hat-trick of wickets were the dangerous Michael Hussey (bowled for 13), Brad Hogg (bowled for 10) and Brett Lee (lbw for a duck).