Cricket is unpredictable and there have been numerous instances that back this statement. The latest such instance came on Saturday during the summit clash of the Women’s National Cricket League between South Australian Scorpions and Tasmania Women. South Australia lost the match by one run after they were required to score four runs off the last six balls. It was one of the most dramatic finishes to a cricket game.
Batting first, Tasmania Women scored 264/10 in their designated 50 overs. However, with rain interrupting the game, South Australia were required to score 243 runs in 47 overs. The Jemma Barsby-led team has put itself in a commanding position having scored 239 runs for the loss of five wickets in 46 overs.
With just four runs off required off the last six balls, a second WNCL title looked very much possible for South Australia. But little was anyone aware of the drama that was going to unfold at the Blundstone Arena. It started with Annie O'Neil (28 from 20) getting cleaned up by Sarah Coyte on the very first ball of the over.
SA captain Jemma Barsby (28 from 17) also looked clueless against Coyte who was scripting history on the night and got stumped two balls later. South Australia were still in the box-seat, needing three runs from three deliveries when Coyte ran out Amanda-Jade Wellington (1), deflecting the ball onto the stumps in her follow-through.
South Australia needed three runs off the final delivery but could manage just one as No.11 Anesu Mushangwe, celebrating her 27th birthday, stood dumbfounded out of her ground and was run out.
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Sarah Coyte, who was named the Player of the Match for her magical spell (4/30) said she felt no nerves while she was getting ready to bowl the last over. The pacer also said that she had a strange feeling that she will pull it off for her team.
“I actually felt pretty calm, which is very strange given the situation,” Coyte said post-match, admitting she was “still trying to process what just happened”.
“(Captain Elyse Villani) asked me what I was going to bowl, and I just said I’m going to have to bowl at the stumps and try to get under their bat, and (said) ‘we’re not losing this game’. So yeah, it was nice to feel calm and clear out there.”
