Lucy Hamilton in WBBL: Brisbane Heat teenager Lucy Hamilton has become the youngest player to take five wickets in WBBL history, skipping Schoolies Week to guide her side to a crucial six-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars.
On Sunday, Hamilton produced the equal-second best performance in the competition’s 10-year history, taking 5 for 8 to help the Heat bowl out the Stars for 138
Hamilton’s Stunning Performance
The Brisbane Heat’s third consecutive victory has propelled them back into third place, while the Stars’ season is nearing its end with only two wins from seven matches.
Hamilton, 18, entered Sunday’s match without any wickets to her name, having not taken any in her eight-match WBBL career. After recently completing her QCE exams in Bundaberg and celebrating with friends on the Gold Coast, this was the biggest day of her career.
Although Sutherland got off to a fast start with 21 runs, Hamilton dismissed her and Yastika Bhatia in her first over. She also had Meg Lanning caught behind for 13 runs and dismissed the dangerous Tess Flintoff, who was caught behind while attempting to drive the ball to mid-off.
Hamilton then dismissed Deepti Sharma LBW, marking the first five-wicket haul by a Heat bowler in WBBL history. Her figures are second only to Megan Schutt’s impressive 6 for 19 in the competition’s history and match Amanda-Jade Wellington’s two performances of 5 for 8.
Heat’s Easy Chase
The Brisbane Heat’s batsmen chased down the target with ease, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Charlie Knott leading the charge as the Heat reached the target with 15 balls to spare.
Rodrigues made 45 off 31 balls, including two big sixes and five fours, but was dismissed by a slower delivery from Annabel Sutherland.
Hamilton on her journey
“All my mates are at school at the moment, having fun at Goldie,” Hamilton said, adding that she couldn’t believe what had just happened. “Walking out on the field today I was just trying to support myself. Getting my first wicket and getting 5-FAs, all the girls were circling me. It was really exciting. I had to be patient and play a few games, and finally, it happened and was exciting.
Part of Australia’s under-19 team, Hamilton will eventually move to Brisbane in the coming months, after regularly travelling five hours from Bundaberg.
“I was talking to my bowling coach the other day, and now it’s about working on getting myself back to standing up the seam and swinging the ball back,” Hamilton said. “Progressive training will help with that, but there has to be confidence to be able to do that.”
Only late hitting from Kim Garth and Maisie Gibson gave the Stars some hope, but the Heat still chased down the target with ease.
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