Isle of Man Women secured a comprehensive 9-wicket victory over Malta Women in the second T20I at Marsa Sports Club, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. A stunning bowling performance by Joanne Hicks, who took a hat-trick and registered figures of 5/10, dismantled Malta Women for just 50 runs. Isle of Man chased down the target with ease, winning with 94 balls to spare.
Match Report:
After winning the toss and electing to field, Isle of Man Women quickly took control of the match. Malta Women struggled to get going against a disciplined bowling attack, with only two batters reaching double figures. Aneeta Santhosh top-scored with an unbeaten 12 off 25 balls, while Anupama Rameshan contributed 11 off 16. However, it was Joanne Hicks who stole the show with a remarkable spell, taking 5/10 in her 4 overs, including a sensational hat-trick. Hicks’ hat-trick came in the 11th over, removing Likitha Yadav, SM Arooja, and Thambi Sarada in consecutive deliveries to leave Malta reeling at 44/8. Lucy Barnett also contributed with 1/9 as Malta were bowled out for a mere 50 in 14.1 overs.
In response, Isle of Man Women made light work of the chase. Despite losing Lucy Barnett for 16 off 6 balls, Caitlin Henery (17* off 8) and Ellan Cleator (14* off 12) ensured there were no further hiccups. Isle of Man reached the target in just 4.2 overs, sealing the match and the series in emphatic fashion.
Key Moments:
- Joanne Hicks’ Hat-Trick: Hicks took a hat-trick in the 11th over, dismissing Likitha Yadav, SM Arooja, and Thambi Sarada in consecutive balls, finishing with exceptional figures of 5/10.
- Record-Breaking Catches: Joanne Hicks set a new record for most catches by a fielder (5) in WT20Is for Isle of Man Women, while Ellan Cleator set the record for most catches in an innings (3).
- Lowest Match Aggregate: The match recorded the lowest aggregate score (103) involving Malta Women and Isle of Man Women in WT20Is.
Brief Scores:
Malta Women: 50 all out in 14.1 overs (Aneeta Santhosh 12*, Joanne Hicks 5/10).
Isle of Man Women: 53/1 in 4.2 overs (Caitlin Henery 17*, Lucy Barnett 16).
Isle of Man Women’s dominant performance in both bowling and batting led them to a convincing 9-wicket win, securing the T20I series against Malta Women. With this win, Isle of Man takes an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, showcasing their superiority and strong team effort. Malta Women will need to regroup quickly as they aim to salvage pride in the final match of the series.
