In a thrilling display of power-hitting, spin-bowling allrounder Alana King turned the spotlight on herself with a sensational batting performance in the first ODI of the three-match series between Australia and Bangladesh last Thursday. King carved a place in the record books by hammering 28 runs off Bangladesh’s leg-spinner Fahima Khatun in the final over of Australia’s innings.
The over began with Annabel Sutherland taking a single, bringing King into the strike. Showing prodigious anticipation and footwork, King rocked back on a slightly short delivery from Khatun and launched it over cow corner for six runs. With clear intent and precision, she continued to put immense pressure on the opposition. The third ball again disappeared over the deep midwicket boundary for another six, her powerful striking leaving spectators in awe.
Although the fourth delivery brought a bit of reprieve for the Bangladeshi side as it was dispatched for a boundary, King’s hunger for runs was far from satiated. Demonstrating her disdain for anything pitched in her zone, she smashed the fifth ball for one more maximum, disregarding the fact that it was delivered well outside her off-stump.
Under the enormous pressure exerted by King’s aggressive batting, Khatun faltered with her gameplan, delivering a loopy ball to conclude the over. King, primed and ready for the offering, went for a colossal slog sweep that sent the ball sailing over the fielder at cow corner, marking a mighty end to Australia’s innings. The powerful Australian batter’s unbeaten 46 off just 31 deliveries included five massive sixes, propelling her to an enviable record.
King’s sensational hitting rewrote a piece of Australian cricket history that day. She outdid former Australian women’s cricketer and current head coach Shelly Nitschke by hitting the most number of sixes in an ODI inning for Australia. Nitschke’s record of four sixes was previously set during her 113 not out against New Zealand in Invercargill on March 6, 2010.
As an addendum to this historic performance, Alana King’s bravura batting display could be a topic of motivation in the locker room conversations amongst the Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by skipper Pat Cummins, who is keen on an ‘aggressively’ spirited start in the 2024 edition of the IPL. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, in the long and frustrating road to recovery, has expressed a profound gratitude towards life and a spirited determination to return to form.
The playing XIs of both teams showcased a blend of established talents and emerging prospects. The Australian line-up featured stalwarts such as Alyssa Healy as captain, who kept wickets as well, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, and Tahlia McGrath. They were supplemented by talented individuals like Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, and spearhead pacer Megan Schutt.
Bangladesh’s team included names like Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Fargana Hoque, captain and wicket-keeper Nigar Sultana, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Rabeya Khan, Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, and Sultana Khatun. Efforts from these players would be pivotal in shaping the series’ outcome and also in thwarting batting onslaughts like the one from Alana King. Her epic final over, a triumph of timing and tenacity, will echo in the annals of Australian cricket history for days to come.
