In a landmark achievement for women’s cricket, Kathryn Bryce, the all-rounder from Gujarat Giants, has made history by becoming the third-ever player to claim a hat-trick in The Hundred women’s competition. Representing the Manchester Originals, Bryce’s phenomenal performance not only earned her this prestigious accolade but also marked her as the first player from Manchester Originals to secure a hat-trick in the tournament’s women’s edition.
Bryce, who also captains the Scotland women’s national team, achieved this remarkable feat during the Originals’ clash against the Northern Superchargers in the unique 100-ball format of The Hundred. Her hat-trick, spread across two sets of five balls each, saw her taking down prominent players Annabel Sutherland, Alice Davidson-Richards, and Kate Cross. This distinguished her as one of the elite few alongside Alana King and Shabnim Ismail, who had previously celebrated hat-tricks in the women’s competition of The Hundred.
Her stunning performance didn’t stop at the hat-trick; Bryce managed to claim a five-wicket haul, also known as a fifer, by adding two more wickets to her tally—one before and one after her hat-trick. While her extraordinary bowling effort was undoubtedly the highlight of the second innings, Beth Mooney’s stellar batting performance set the stage for the Manchester Originals. Mooney remained undefeated at 99, setting a new highest score for the ongoing edition of the tournament and the second-highest total ever in The Hundred’s history. Her innings played a crucial role in propelling the Originals to a formidable total of 151/3.
Following her brilliant batting display, Mooney was named the Meerkat Match Hero. Reflecting on her performance, she shared, “It was a lot of fun. I thought Laura Wolvaardt and I set the game up nicely at the top, and obviously, Kathryn Bryce finished it beautifully by claiming a five-fer. It was a pretty good day out for the Originals.
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When asked about missing the century mark by just one run, Mooney expressed a mix of regret and satisfaction. “A little bit [of regret at not reaching 100]. But if you’d told me this morning I would have scored that many runs, I would have taken it, especially since it got the team in a winning position, which is most important,” she added.
“I did the best I could and didn’t quite get over the line for that milestone but for me, it’s about trying to get the team into a winning position, and I thought 150 was probably about par,” Mooney continued. “We saw some of the batters in the Superchargers take the game to the sword a bit and could have taken it away from us pretty quickly, but I thought we were really composed and bowled beautifully,” the Australian star remarked, underscoring the team’s resilient bowling performance.
Outside The Hundred, Bryce is also known for her contributions to the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). During the 2024 WPL season, she participated in eight matches, scoring 83 runs with a highest score of 28, and further making an impact with the ball by claiming four wickets.
Kathryn Bryce’s historical hat-trick has added a new chapter to her already impressive career, serving as a testament to her skill and determination on the field. Her performance not only boosts her individual career but also elevates the profile of the Manchester Originals within The Hundred women’s competition. As the tournament progresses, the cricket community will undoubtedly keep a keen eye on Bryce and her continuing contributions to the sport.
Her latest achievements will inspire many aspiring cricketers, particularly women, to pursue their dreams with passion and perseverance. With players like Bryce making significant strides, the future of women’s cricket looks both promising and exciting.
