In the exciting world of women’s T20 Cricket World Cup, only two players have ever achieved the rare feat of taking a hat-trick. The first to do this was India’s Ekta Bisht in the 2012 Women’s T20 World Cup, held in Sri Lanka, followed by England’s Anya Shrubsole in the 2018 Women’s T20 World Cup, held in the West Indies. These remarkable achievements highlight the skill and talent of these bowlers and stand out as special moments in the history of women’s cricket. Their performances have helped to raise the profile of the women’s game and inspire future generations of cricketers.
Ekta Bisht vs Sri Lanka, 2012
Ekta Bisht is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, who became the first women’s cricketer to take a hat-trick in the T20 World Cup. She achieved this incredible milestone against Sri Lanka Women on October 3, 2012, during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She took a hat-trick at a very crucial stage of the match in the 20th over, where she dismissed Dilani Manodara, Yasoda Mendis, and Eshani Lokusuriyage as her first, second, and third wickets respectively. She also ran out Sandamali Dolawatte on the very next ball after the hat-trick. Due to this magical performance, Bisht was awarded the player of the match for maintaining impressive bowling figures of 4-0-16-3, and India Women registered an easy win over Sri Lanka Women by a margin of 9 wickets.
She made her T20 international debut on June 23, 2011, against Australia Women during the NatWest Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series in Billericay. She has played a total of 42 T20 international matches in which she has taken 53 wickets at an economy of 5.30, and her best bowling figures were 4/21, which came against England Women on March 22, 2016, during the Women’s T20 World Cup in Dharamshala. Later on, she performed very well throughout her international T20 career and continued to shine for Team India whenever it was needed at crucial times.
Anya Shrubsole vs South Africa, 2018
Anya Shrubsole, who is a right-arm medium pacer, showed a magnificent performance with the ball and took a hat-trick on November 16, 2018, against South Africa Women during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Gros Islet. She completed this feat in the 20th over of the innings, where she dismissed Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas, and Yolani Fourie as her first, second, and third wickets respectively. This hat-trick helped England to all out the South African Women’s team for just 85 runs. In the second innings, England Women easily chased that total in 14 overs and registered a huge victory over South African Women by 7 wickets.
Shrubsole has good experience in T20 internationals, where she played a total of 79 T20 matches in which she has taken 102 wickets at an economy of 5.95. Her best bowling performance was 5/11, which came against New Zealand Women on February 12, 2012, during England Women’s tour of New Zealand in Wellington. In this match, she was awarded the player of the match.