Australia's star leg-spinner Alana King became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in women’s The Hundred competition. Alana’s first ever hat-trick of her professional career helped Trent Rockets Women bundle out Manchester Originals Women for 76.
In the 12th over of the innings, the leg-spinner took the wickets of Cordelia Griffith, Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross to end Manchester Originals' hopes of getting anywhere near the target. Originals were reduced to 45/7 which led to a massive 43-run loss. Earlier, the Australian also took the wicket of dangerous Deandra Dottin in the powerplay overs.
Alana was ecstatic with the hat-trick and dedicated it to legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne who passed away earlier this year.
"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," the 26-year-old told Sky Sports.
"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."
Alana also had a chance to take a double hat-trick but the lbw review against wicketkeeper-batter Ellie Threlkeld did not go in her favour. She finished with four wickets for 15 runs.
In the first innings, Rockets scored 119/5 despite losing four wickets for 43 runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Abigail Freeborn top-scored for Rockets with unbeaten 45 runs from 38 deliveries. Alana delivered with the bat as well. She played a 9-ball 19 cameo including two boundaries.
Interestingly, the first hat-trick in the men’s The Hundred competition was taken by a leg-spinner as well. South Africa’s Imran Tahir took a hat-trick for Birmingham Phoenix against Welsh Fire.
Recently, Alana was a part of Australia’s gold-medal winning Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 squad as well. However, in the final she was expensive against India, going for 40 runs in her quota of four overs.
