Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga was unaware he had become the first man in international cricket to take four wickets in four balls, against South Africa in the World Cup Super Eights.
His heroics, which have never happened before in international one-day or Test cricket, nearly robbed South Africa of victory but Graeme Smith's men clung on for a one-wicket win having earlier been cruising.
"I didn't know if anyone else had taken four," Malinga told a news conference. "I know now I was the first person and I'm very happy. But my team lost the game."
Malinga, who sports large bouncy hair with blonde streaks, dismissed Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini, but South Africa reached their modest target with 10 balls to spare after Sri Lanka had been bowled out for 209.
"My first spell was no good," he said. "With the last spell I took wickets but that was not enough to win the game. The best ball was Pollock. My slower ball."
Malinga, whose low, slingy action has courted controversy, was eventually made joint man-of-match with five-wicket South African Charl Langeveldt after an initial mix-up where only Langeveldt was named.
The International Cricket Council said it had apologised to the Sri Lankan team.
Team captain Mahela Jayawardene hailed his bowler but was disappointed with the result.
"We never had a chance in this game, he created it," Jayawardene said. "He can be a handful for the lower middle order and tailenders. I can use him at any stage, he is always good to go.
"But we didn't deserve to win this game the way we batted."
South African captain Smith refused to blame his lower order for almost throwing away the match and instead praised Malinga.
"You've got to give Malinga some credit, he is an awkward bowler. He just ran in and gave it his all," Smith said.
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