An Ella Hayward hat-trick has steered the Australia’s Women’s Indigenous team to its third successive victory at the PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational.
Hayward’s 3/17 – highlighted by a hat-trick in the opening over of her spell – saw Australia restrict opponents Vanuatu to 8/94 at Port Morsby’s Amini Park on Tuesday.
Entering the attack in the seventh over, Hayward reduced Vanuatu to 5/27 after clean bowling Leimauri Chilia (3 from 15), before having Alvina Chilia caught and bowled for a golden duck the next ball.
The 21-year-old off-spinner then completed the rare feat by dismissing Susan Stephen LBW to end the 7th over.
Rachel Andrew was the only batter to show any resistance following her side’s collapse, the Vanuatuan captain finishing unbeaten on 56 (54).
In addition to Hayward, left arm seamer Callee Black (2/11) and off-spinner Grace Abdy (2/12) were also in the wickets for Australia.
Victorian batter Tahlia Meier anchored Australia’s chase, opening the innings to post a patient 31* (52).
Meier partnered with Veronica Keen (24 from 28) to put on 45 for the second wicket before Keen was run out by Andrew.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Cricket PNG (@cricket_png)
Her demise brought New South Wales turned Queensland allrounder Dharmini Chauhan to the crease, the 23-year-old chipping in with a near run-a-ball 17 (18) to bring Australian within reach of victory.
After she was bowled by Vicky Mansale (2/17), Vanuatu’s best with the ball, Tasmanian wicketkeeper-batter Emma Manix-Geeves (8* from 10) partnered with Meier to guide Australia to victory with 6 wickets and 8 balls to spare.
Australia’s victory, their third consecutive for the tournament, came after comfortable victories against Samoa and Papua New Guinea earlier in the week.
In Tuesday’s second fixture, Papua New Guinea (6/56) accounted for Samoa (10/64) by six wickets.
Australia’s six wicket victory sits them atop the tournament’s standings before they face Papua New Guinea for the second time on Thursday.
