October 16 saw the third match of the Women’s Big Bash League being played between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers. The game was held at Bellerive Over Stadium, Hobart and turned out to be a one-sided affair. After being put-in to bat first, Adelaide Strikers Women were carried by Tahila McGrath’s 42-run-knock. They managed to put 140 runs on the board which eventually proved to be a bit too much for Sydney Thunders.
Bridget Patterson pulls off a stunner on the boundary line
The news-breaking incident took place in the penultimate over of the game. With 35 needed off 9, Thunder’s Isabelle Wong was looking to go big. Amanda Wellington expected it and chose to give her stump-lined leg-break some extra flight. Wong still went through with her hoick and connected decently, only to be denied a six courtesy of an athletic act by Bridget Patterson.
Guarding the boundary at deep mid-wicket, Bridget Patterson showed a sharp presence of mind as the ball started to get big on her. She timed her jump/stretch perfectly, plucking the ball with just one hand. She then threw the ball up in the air before stumbling over the ropes and jumping back in to complete a clean catch.
Bridget Patterson walks the boundary tightrope – and catches a classic! #OhWhatAFeeling | @Toyota_Aus | #WBBL07 pic.twitter.com/C7FzpZket6
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 16, 2021
Pulling off a stunner made no difference to Patterson though. The catch was pure nonchalance and so was the celebration that followed. Even after completing the stunner, Bridget chose to remain poker-faced, showing no emotion at all. As if nothing had happened. One of the commentators was left awestruck, saying, “Just the nonchalant celebration. If I had done something like that, I would be running around.”
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Coming back to the match, Thunders Women were bundled out for just 110 runs, with 4 balls still left in the run-chase. While Bridget’s catch was a story of redemption after her dismal outing with the bat, Tahlia McGrath followed her 34-ball-42 with 3 for 17 with the cherry in hand; a performance that earned her player of the match award.