Australia leg-spinner Alana King became the first female to take a hat-trick in The Hundred as Trent Rockets thumped Manchester Originals by 43 runs…
Story of the match
King was in regal form for Rockets at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, bowling Cordelia Griffith (12) and Kate Cross (0) either side of pinning Sophie Ecclestone (0) lbw as Originals limped to 76 all out from 87 balls in reply to Rockets’ 119-5 from 100 deliveries.
The 26-year-old – who finished with figures of 4-15 from her 20 deliveries – would have bagged four wickets in four balls had Rockets gone for the lbw review once Ellie Threlkeld was struck on the pad.
King had earlier chipped in with an unbeaten 19 from nine balls, supporting top-scorer Abbey Freeborn (45no off 38), after a Rockets top order missing captain Nat Sciver for personal reasons had failed to fire.
Originals’ international top four also stuttered, with Lizelle Lee (17 off 13), Emma Lamb (0 off 2), Deandra Dottin (0 off 2) and Amy Satterthwaite (9 off 15) contributing just 26 runs between them.
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Lee – who had smashed the first ball of the innings for six – fell to a superb one-handed catch from Sarah Glenn as the fielder backpedaled from mid-off, while Dottin sliced the impressive King to short third.
Dottin (2-21 from 20 balls) led a fine bowling performance from Originals earlier in the day – but King was the star by the end of it as Rockets ran out handsome winners in Manchester, with Kathryn Bryce (2-2 from 12 balls ) and Glenn (2-14 from 20) also impressing for the visitors.
Hero of the Match, Alana King: I hope Shane Warne is proud
King said: “The hat-trick is pretty special. I hope [Shane Warne] is looking down and is pretty proud. That’s my first hat-trick. Not even in juniors did I take one. My first hat-trick at Old Trafford, I couldn’t have written it.
“Will I get my name up here at Old Trafford? That would be brilliant. Hopefully right next to Warnie. He took poles for fun here.
“I am here to do the job for the team and it came off. The pitch was dry and I am glad there was some spin.
“We have got our first win on the board and that’s what I am pumped about. I am absolutely stoked. It is a great atmosphere and [the Rockets] are a great bunch of girls.”
What’s next?
A bumper weekend of action in The Hundred continues on Sunday with another FOUR matches.
You can watch both women’s games via our free live streams as Northern Superchargers play London Spirit (10.30am on air for 11am start) before Oval Invincibles host Southern Brave (2pm on air for 2.30pm start).
Superchargers vs Spirit is also on Sky Sports The Hundred and Sky Sports Mix, while Invincibles vs Brave will be shown on Sky Sports Mix.
In the men’s competition, Northern Superchargers vs London Spirit (2pm on air for 2.30pm start) and Oval Invincibles vs Southern Brave (5.30pm on air for 6pm start) are both live on Sky Sports The Hundred.
Watch every match from The Hundred this summer live on Sky Sports.
Tickets for The Hundred are selling fast! If you want to be part of the action, go to thehundred.com/tickets