Somerset bowler Alfonso Thomas claimed four Sussex wickets in as many deliveries during the County Championship encounter between the two teams this afternoon.
The visitors had reached 33-0 at Taunton, before seamer Thomas struck with a hat-trick by removing James Anyon for 18 and then Rory Hamilton-Brown and Ed Joyce for ducks.
At the start of his next over, the South African bowled Matt Machan, who was yet to trouble the scorers, which made it four wickets for Thomas in four balls.
The last player to achieve the same feat as Thomas was Gary Butcher back in 2000.