English female cricketer Kate Cross made history on Sunday by taking 8 wickets for Heywood against Unsworth in the Central Lancashire League (CLL).
Last month, Cross became the first ever female cricketer to play in the 123-year-old competitive league. She made an impressive debut as well, bagging 3-19 against Clifton and leading Heywood to a victory.
But her performance against Unsworth on Sunday undoubtedly marks one of the proudest moments of her career so far as she not only impressed, but practically dominated her male opponents.
Cross took 8-47 to bowl out the opposition for 121 and set up a resounding 6-wicket win for Heywood. The figures took Kate’s tally for the season to 12, making her Heywood’s leading wicket-taker as of now.
Kate’s older brother Bobby, who also plays for the same team, made 63 in that game. Their father, former West Ham United striker David Cross was quick to congratulate his daughter.
Cross made an impression with 6 wickets on her England Test debut against Australia in Perth in January last year. Her second Test came against India in August, when she impressed once again with 3 wickets in each innings.
Kate started her career with Heywood and at the age of 15, became the first woman in the club’s history to be admitted to the Lancashire cricket academy.
Several other famous names from around the cricketing world also heaped praise on Cross.
We see only bright things in the future of Kate Cross, who is set to lead the English women’s attack in the upcoming Ashes series.
Here’s a little highlights package featuring her Man-of-the-Match performance against the Kiwi women’s team in an ODI played in February 2015. (Jump to 0:18 to check out her beautiful inswinger) Does her bowling action remind you of Jimmy Anderson?
Congratulations, Kate. We wish you the best of luck for the future.
