OTD | Megan Schutt became the first Australian woman to take a T20I hat-trick in 2018

The experienced Australian fast bowler Megan Schutt created history on this day in 2018 as she became the first Australian to take a hat-trick in T20I cricket. It was a massive achievement for Schutt and she achieved this milestone against India in a Tri-Series. Australia and India faced off in a group-stage match which was dominated by the Aussies. 

First Innings 

Mithali Raj elected to field first after winning the toss for India. Australia’s start with the bat was rocky as India dismissed Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner in the powerplay. But this slow and vulnerable start was compensated by an explosive partnership between Beth Mooney and Elyse Villani. The pair added 114 runs for the third wicket. Villani scored 61 runs off 42 deliveries before she got out to Poonam Yadav. Mooney went deep and made sure that Australia posted a challenging total on the board. Her 71 runs off just 46 deliveries carried the Aussies to 186/5 at the end of the first innings. 

Second Innings

Australia had the upper hand in the contest as they had posted a huge target for India to chase. The powerplay of the second innings was completely dominated by Australia. It was Megan Schutt who led the Australian bowling attack with the new ball. In the third over she gave two major breakthroughs. First, Schutt dismissed Smriti Mandhana with a Jaffa delivery to uproot the stumps. Mandhana was left rattled by this unbelievable ball but Schutt was determined to achieve more. On the very next ball, she ended Mithali Raj’s stay on the crease in the same fashion. 

Megan Schutt came back into the attack a couple of overs later. She was on a hat-trick on the first ball of the fifth over. All-rounder Deepti Sharma was the next prey as Schutt completed her hat-trick. With this dismissal, Australia reduced the home team to 26/3. The Aussies were in complete control and from here it was an easy road to victory. India showed some fight but eventually, they could only accumulate 150 runs as Australia won the match by 36 runs. Megan Schutt was awarded the player of the match for her exceptional bowling spell. 

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