Issy Wong takes first-ever hat-trick in WPL

England speedster Issy Wong scripted history to become the first player to pick up a Women’s premier league hat-trick. Wong was at her lethal best for Mumbai Indians at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy on Friday evening, bowling Kiran Navgire (43), Simran Shaik (0) and Sophie Ecclestone (0) as UP Warriorz limped to 84/4 to 84/7 in a matter of few minutes.

Going into the Eliminator of the 2023 Women’s Premier League against UP Warriorz, Mumbai Indians were tipped as the favourites to qualify for the final after bagging 12 points in eight games in the league stage of the competition.

Alyssa Healy called it right at the toss and put Mumbai Indians to bat first. The Mumbai openers seemed to have taken the decision with open arms and went all guns blazing right from the get-go. Yastika Bhatia and Hayley Matthews lit up the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy with prolific shot selection. The baton was passed on to Nat Sciver-Brunt, who put on a stroke-making masterclass and dismantled the UP Warriorz’s bowling attack to help Mumbai notch up a daunting target of 183 for Warriorz to chase down for a spot in the final.

Issy Wong wreaks havoc in Navi Mumbai

Warriorz got off to a sluggish start and were in a spot of bother after quick wickets. The pressure started to accumulate, and the dream of making the final seemed like a mountain to climb. Just when it felt like the storm had passed post 12 overs, Issy Wong came in to bowl her third over.

Her first two overs were quick, accurate and troubled the batters. Issy Wong was known for her ability to stack up quick wickets. But, No one, though, had reckoned that she would bag three in a trot.

The dangerous Kiran Navgire was greeted with a quick full-toss which she failed to punish, only to scoop it to Sciver-Brunt at mid-wicket. Wong started to release thunderbolts on a fuller length as Simran Shaik looked clueless and was knocked over to help Wong pick her third overall.

Wong streamed in and released yet another on the stumps, this time, fuller around the off stump, and Ecclestone did not have much of an idea and ended up dragging it back on to help complete Wong’s sensational hat-trick as the Mumbai crowd cheered on.