Women’s Big Bash League

Watch: WBBL fielder pulls off extraordinary double six save

by Wisden Staff October 31, 2023 - 10:44am 3 minute read

Watch: At a WBBL 2023/24 match in Perth, Erin Burns pulled off a spectacular double-save against Perth Scorchers.

Batting first at the WACA, the Perth Scorchers put up 166-8 against the Sydney Sixers. For the hosts, No.8 Alana King came out in the 16th over but top-scored with a 14-ball 33 not out, while Beth Mooney made 32 in 25 balls at the top.

For the Sixers, Ash Gardner claimed 3-38 and Linsey Smith 2-20.

The Scorchers were 153-8 when Gardner came to bowl the last over. Her first five balls went for 11 runs. King, having put away the second and fifth balls for four, prepared to face the last ball.

Gardner tossed the ball outside off, and King slog-swept. The ball soared to the deep mid-wicket boundary. Erin Burns, posted just inside the rope, plucked the ball out of the air, realised she would run over the line, and flung it up.

Burns did run over the line, but just as she stepped back, she realised that she had not thrown the ball inside the playing arena. As the ball descended over the rope, Burns threw herself full-length, intercepted the ball mid-fall, and slapped it back with both hands.

This time the ball landed inside the boundary. Burns recovered, picked it up, and threw it back, saving a six and four extra runs, as the batters had run only two.

Chasing 167, Sydney Sixers were 26-0 in 3.2 overs with Ellyse Perry (14) and Suzie Bates (10) at the crease.