Australia had already secured the series win over India but skipper Meg Lanning had a moment she’d rather forget in the final match.
Australian captain Meg Lanning was involved in a bizarre dismissal in which she got herself out in the third T20 against India on the Gold Coast on Sunday night.
Victory in the multi-format series was already assured going into the final T20 match and Australia was looking to finish on a high.
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After India won the toss and elected to bowl, the Aussies made a solid start to their innings.
Lanning had scored 14 runs off as many balls and was playing well when disaster struck.
Facing spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, the No. 3 batter retreated deep into her crease and initially appeared to have struck a sensational cut shot through the point region for four.
But as soon as Lanning hit the ball, Indian wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh loudly appealed to the umpire to give the Australian skipper out “hit wicket”.
The decision was reviewed by the third umpire and it was confirmed Lanning had in fact hit her own stumps and knocked off the bails with her bat.
She was given out and hung her head in disappointment as she made her way back to the pavilion.
“She’ll be devastated. She’s smoked that for four,” former Australian batter Brad Hodge said in commentary.
“What a disaster for the skipper. Unlucky for Meg Lanning. It was a pretty well executed boundary to be honest off the back foot.”
“Not impressed is she?” ex-Australian captain Lisa Sthalekar added.
Former Australian cricketer Mel Jones told Fox Cricket Lanning had fallen victim to one of the strengths of her batting style.
“The beauty of Meg Lanning is that she uses her feet so well and she does play deep (in the crease),” Jones said.
“Just too deep on this occasion.”
It is extremely rare for a professional cricketer to get our hit wicket, which is a form of dismissal usually seen only in amateur club games.
Lanning claimed an unwanted piece of history, becoming just the seventh player ever to get out hit wicket in women’s T20 Internationals.
Cricket fans were couldn’t believe Lanning had got herself out in such unusual fashion.
“Oh my word,” cricket writer Melinda Farrell tweeted.
“Lanning out hit wicket. Sure, she was very deep in her crease, but that shot is her stock-in-trade. Can’t quite believe it.”
Sports editor Alex Fair added: Wow. Not something anyone anywhere would ever expect.
“Lanning out hit wicket is just another example that this series has had absolutely everything.”
Thankfully for Australia, opener Beth Mooney’s excellent knock of 61 off 43 balls and yet another impressive innings from Tahlia McGrath (43 off 31) helped rescue the innings and ensure the home side posted a competitive total of 149 off its 20 overs.
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