In a bizarre series of events at North Sydney Oval in the third women's ODI between Australia and South Africa, Alana King hit her stumps but still managed to score 13 runs off just one ball.
The incident took place in the 48th over of Australia's innings. South Africa pacer Masabata Klaas bowled a high full toss. Alana got one knee and hit it over the deep square-leg fence. In doing so, she hit the stumps with her bat in follow-through. The batter immediately looked at the square leg umpire who signalled no-ball.
Since a batter cannot get out hit wicket off a no-ball, Alana got another chance to go after Masabata. On the next ball, Masabata slowed up the pace. But Alana picked it up early and hit the ball over the midwicket fence for another maximum and hence 13 runs were scored off a legitimate delivery.
However, in the final over, Masabata had the last laugh. She bowled a low full toss and Alana went for an aerial shot but got caught by Chloe Tryon at deep midwicket. She scored 17 runs from 12 balls.
Healy, Mooney’s fifties take Australia to a fighting total
Earlier, Australia skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and opted to bat first. Masabata struck early to dismiss Pheobe Litchfield for a single-digit score. Ellyse Perry (24) got a start but got bowled by Masabata. Alyssa scored 60 runs from 73 balls before losing her wicket to Eliz-mari Marx.
Tahlia McGrath pushed the scoring rate in the middle overs with a 35-ball 44 including seven boundaries. Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham got out after scoring just one run each. Annabel Sutherland got off to a good start but became one of Masabata's four victims. Beth remained unbeaten for 82 off 91 balls to take Australia's score to 277/9. Her unbeaten 82 featured 10 fours.
Earlier in the ODI series, Australia beat South Africa by eight wickets at Adelaide Oval. In the second ODI, South Africa registered a dominating win by 84 runs (DLS method). It was South Africa’s first-ever win over Australia in women’s ODIs.
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