Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas made history with an astonishing hat-trick off the first three balls of a World Cup game against Bangladesh.

Vaas also grabbed a fourth wicket in his first over of the Group B match while conceding a four and a wide to leave the bewildered Bangladeshis 5-4.

Stunned officials soon confirmed it was the first hat-trick off the opening three balls in a World Cup match.

His first delivery uprooted the off stump of Hannan Sarker. The next man in, Mohammad Ashraful, was caught and bowled before Ehsanul Hoque gave Vaas the hat-trick when he sent a thick outside edge to Mahela Jayawardene in the slips.

Sanuar Hossain broke the tension by smashing the fourth ball of the over to the boundary and then the fifth ball was a wide.

But Vaas was not finished yet. With his sixth ball he got the benefit of a dubious lbw decision to dismiss Hossain.

Meanwhile, England's latest attempt to get their controversial World Cup opener against Zimbabwe re-scheduled will be heard in Johannesburg later today.

The England and Wales Cricket Board will make a legal submission to the World Cup technical committee, including a statement from the players.