Peterson's last-over hat-trick snatches win for New Zealand

New Zealand Women 9 for 101 (Bates 30, Strano 5-10) beat Australia Women 9 for 61 by eight runs (D/L method)
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Molly Strano claimed 5 for 10, the best figures by an Australian in a women’s T20 international © Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Anna Peterson took the first international hat-trick by a New Zealand women’s bowler in more than 20 years to help her side level the series against Australia 1-1 in Geelong. The Australians seemed well-placed at the change of innings, having been set 102 for victory, but the match turned as the New Zealanders claimed early wickets and then managed to defend a Duckworth-Lewis target of 70 after heavy mid-innings rain.

Still, Australia were in the hunt in the late stages and needed 11 runs off the final over, which was the first of the match for the offspinner Peterson. She began by having Jess Jonassen caught skying an attempted slog, followed up with Alyssa Healy, who was also caught trying to clear the field, and completed the hat-trick when Megan Schutt slogged a catch to midwicket. It left Peterson with the remarkable figures of 0.3-0-0-3.

It was the sixth hat-trick taken in women’s T20 internationals and the first by a New Zealander; last time a New Zealander claimed an international hat-trick was February 1996, when Emily Drumm achieved the feat in an ODI against Australia in Adelaide. Peterson’s strikes left Australia needing 11 off three balls, which was far too tall a task for tail-enders Amanda-Jade Wellington and Molly Strano.

Strano herself had been especially impressive with the ball earlier in the day, collecting three wickets in the final over of New Zealand’s innings – not to mention having a catch dropped off the last ball of that over – to finish with 5 for 10, the best figures by an Australian in a women’s T20 international. New Zealand’s innings had started reasonably, with a 38-run opening stand between Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest.

But Strano broke that partnership by having Priest stumped for 20, and regular wickets after that affected New Zealand’s momentum – particularly the loss of Bates for 30, sharply caught and bowled by Wellington. However, Australia’s chase stuttered from the outset, with the loss of Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner and Meg Lanning within the first six overs, before the rain arrived.

At the time, Australia needed 67 off 72 with seven wickets in hand; the revised target left them requiring 35 off 30 balls when play resumed. But they struggled to gain any real traction, especially when Alex Blackwell was caught behind swiping at Holly Huddleston for 14, and Elyse Villani was caught off Amy Satterthwaite for 14 in the next over. Peterson did the rest.

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Source: ESPN Crickinfo