Watch: Otago captain Suzie Bates got out hit wicket in bizarre fashion against Auckland in a 2022/23 Women’s Super Smash league match.

Bates came into the match on the back of a dazzling 67-ball unbeaten 101 in her previous match, against a Northern Districts attack consisting of Australia leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington and Ireland all-rounder Eimear Richardson. Buoyed by her hundred, Otago posted 165-3 before restricting Northern Districts to to 145-7.

Expectations from Bates were, thus, high, when Otago played Auckland in their next match, at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown. Bates’s opening partner Olivia Gain fell first ball, but Bates soon hit a four off Arlene Kelly. She was on 10 from 13 balls (and Otago 18-1) when Amie Hucker came to bowl the last ball of the fourth over.

Hucker had already bowled two wides in the over, both to Bates. This one, too, was outside off-stump, and Bates had a wild swipe. As she did, her bottom (right) hand came off the bat. Bates completed the swing of the bat, oblivious to how close she was to the stumps. Towards the end of its path, the bat connected with the leg-stump, knocking both bails off. Bates had to go.

Interestingly, a year (and a day, to be precise) ago, Bates was out hit wicket (off Amelia Kerr) – at the same venue in Queenstown. She was also the first cricketer to be given out hit wicket in the Women’s Big Bash League (off Lea Tahuhu, in 2013/14, then off Erin Osborne, in 2017/18). In 50-over cricket, too, she got out in similar fashion, off Melinda Knight at Mosgiel in 2013/14.

As for the match, Kate Ebrahim made 40 from No.4, but she took 39 balls as the Auckland bowlers, led by Kelly (4-0-15-2), restricted Otago to 130-7. Anna Browning (42) and Lauren Down (44 not out) then ensured an eight-wicket win with three balls to spare – though not before Bates (4-0-20-1) trapped Isabella Gaze (26) leg-before.

Watch Suzie Bates get out hit wicket here:

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