CWG 2022 | Wanted to dig a gap and soar in it: Meg Lanning reacts to denying Alana King uncommon hat-trick

Australia captain Meg Lanning dropped a easy catch at first slip, denying Alana King a hat-trick within the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Australia captain Meg Lanning throughout a Commonwealth match. (Courtesy: Reuters)

HIGHLIGHTSAlana King took career-best 4/8 in opposition to Barbados within the 2022 GamesAustralia have certified for the Commonwealth cricket semi-finalsMegan Schutt is the one Australian to take hat-trick in girls’s T20I

Australia captain Meg Lanning mentioned that she needed to dig a gap and soar in it after dropping a easy catch which denied leg-spinner Alana King a uncommon hat-trick on the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

In a Group A fixture between Australia and Barbados, King eliminated Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell in consecutive balls. The Australian fielders crowded in shut however when King drew a thick edge off Keila Elliott, Lanning, who was standing at first slip, fumbled to what would have been a simple catch.

Had Lanning held onto the catch, it might have been simply the second hat-trick by an Australian in girls’s T20Is after Megan Schutt’s hat-trick in opposition to India in 2018. Eventually, King completed with a career-best 4/8 in 4 over as Barbados folded for simply 64.

“I’ll have nightmares,” Lanning instructed reporters after the match. “I wanted to dig a hole and jump in it as quick as I could.

“I do not know, I attempted my finest and I dropped it. I wasn’t overly happy. Let’s put it that manner. I used to be simply disillusioned for Kingy, she was bowling so nicely and to let her down like that was not ideally suited. But that is cricket, I assume.”

Lanning, along with opener Alyssa Healy, took Australia home comfortably inside nine overs and secured their team’s semi-finals berth at the Commonwealth Games.

“I used to be simply eager to contribute actually,” Lanning continued. “I used to be simply pouncing on some free balls once I received them. (The pitch) has tended to be a bit of bit tough to start out, and you have to get the tempo of the wicket and just remember to’re enjoying the suitable pictures … then when you get a really feel for it, you possibly can speed up fairly fast.”

King on her part was understanding. She said: “No one means to drop the ball or something, it is simply the way in which the sport goes, however I’m joyful that I might contribute in no matter manner I can.

“Every ball I bowl I’m trying to get a wicket so that was no different. It caught the outside edge and that’s just cricket, I guess. But I’m just really happy with how I played today.”

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