By Jonty Ralphsmith
Officer 17-year-old Molly Walters took a hat-trick and finished with figures of 6-1 after a bowling masterclass on Saturday against Merinda Park.
Playing in the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association Under-16s mixed competition, Walters bullied the visiting batting attack, taking six of the seven wickets as Merinda Park was bowled out for 12.
The medium-pacer’s hat-trick capped off her wizardry, with consecutive bowled dismissals setting up her second opportunity for a hat-trick in the game.
Merinda Park’s Hamdi Nadeem had his outside edge beaten, with Cody Lucas thinking quickly to whip the bails off of an unaware batter.
Walters bowled just 17 balls – six of them were wickets.
Walters previous hat-trick attempt came in the 10th over of the 12-over innings.
After finishing her first over with a wicket, she started the 10th over with a wicket, and bamboozled Christian Crawford first ball, but the LBW appeal was adjudged not out.
Walters would, however, get him not long thereafter.
A stump-to-stump bowler, Walters’ nifty variations make her a tricky match-up, with those who have watched her noting the late dip she is able to get on her deliveries.
As well as holding her own in male junior competitions across recent years, Walters is also the skipper of the club’s female First XI which competes in the Ringwood District Cricket Association (RDCA).
To further her personal development, she is currently completing a short Cricket Victoria girls leadership program.
The program explores on-field roles in cricket, public relations, marketing and media and operational roles as they apply in a cricketing context and is delivered in four workshops across the summer.
The club nominated her for the program, with those in the Bullants’ inner sanctum noting her willingness to help out juniors and develop others, while noting the speed of her improvement.
