New Zealand’s WHITE FERNS are already showing Australia how it’s done ahead of their exciting home and away series against Australia’s Southern Stars next month.
First Sophie Devine smashed the fastest T20 century in WBBL history.
..4..611.4664..1..166.1.1444164.116..12146.1.414
— AdelaideStrikersWBBL (@StrikersWBBL) December 26, 2016
☝️ @sophdevine77 ton in numbers.
@sophdevine77s' ton in video ➡️ https://t.co/yoxzM6nhZk pic.twitter.com/1efoygaTcm
Now Amy Satterthwaite — one of the classiest allrounders in women’s international cricket — has stunned the Aussies with a T20 hat-trick in the Women's Big Bash League, on her way to a match-winning bag of five for 17.
If that’s not impressive enough, take into account that Satterthwaite switched from bowling pace to right-arm off-spin only in recent years!
The leading WHITE FERN grabbed her thrilling hat-trick with the last three balls of her allocation in the penultimate over in Hobart last night — cleaning up Sydney Thunder pinch hitter Naomi Stalenburg, getting tailender Rene Farrell caught behind after having feathered her quicker ball, then watching with widening eyes as Lauren Cheatle looped up a catch to mid-off to complete the rare event — the first in the WBBL this season.
Swamped by her teammates, Satterthwaite’s five for 17 is also the best figures by any bowler in the current season, and it sealed a six-wicket win over Thunder at Satterthwaite’s home away from home, Bellerive Oval. Her all-time T20 career best, 6-17, is even better, and hails from the days she bowled medium pace — that was on T20 International debut back in 2007, but the bag still ranks as the best ever in women’s T20 International cricket.
Satterthwaite had already made an early impact for the Hurricanes, named player of the match in back-to-back wins in December against the Renegades in Bendigo before making sure they moved up the ladder last night to be well placed at third on the table in the race to the Finals.
The tall, influential allrounder from Canterbury Country — one of the top stars in all Women’s international cricket, finishing 2016 as the world’s most prolific ODI batsman of the calendar year at a rock star average of 85.30 — is also looking forward to getting back home to Canterbury to continue leading the Magicians’ One-Day side.
The red and blacks are dominating both formats this summer and have already qualified for the 2017 Women’s One-Day Final with two whole rounds to spare.
Top of the table in the T20 format as well, the defending champs will also have a shot at defending their short format title where they are led by 2016/17 T20 season captain Frances Mackay and have been the only unbeaten side this summer.
Frances Mackay has led from the front for the Canterbury Magicians this season. Image: www.photosport.nz
The Magicians are back in action on February 3 at Hagley Oval where they will do battle with the slick Auckland Hearts for three games in three days — the last round for all teams before the New Zealand finals weekend. Satterthwaite’s best New Zealand domestic T20 figures of 4-14 — the equal best for Canterbury alongside an identical haul by leg-spinning compatriot Erin Bermingham — are coincidentally against the same side.
The WHITE FERNS T20 squad to Australia will be named next week, the side heading across the Tasman to play at the MCG on 17 February, followed by Simonds Stadium in Geelong on the 19th and Adelaide Oval on the 22nd.
That’s followed just days later by three One-Day Internationals back in New Zealand — at Eden Park on 26 February, then the final two ODIs at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval on the 2nd and 5th of March.
Perfect preparation against the world champions Austrailia for June’s 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup, especially with class acts Devine and Satterthwaite in this kind of form.
.@WHITE_FERNS makes it to ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 https://t.co/zM0BDbRbt6 #cricketicc via @icc
— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) November 17, 2016
