ELLA Gill’s achievement performing the hat-trick for Paignton 2nd XI in their win over Plymouth prompted the question ‘had a lady cricketer ever done that before in the Devon League?’
Thanks to the long memory of league official and former Cornwood player Phil Bees, we know the answer, which is yes.
Delving into the DCL archives, revealed the following story from June 2011 and the winner of the player-of-the-month award, which was sponsored by accountancy firm Francis Clark.
DATELINE JUNE 2011 – CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING
KAIT O'Keefe from Cornwood has been named as the Francis Clark Devon League player of the month for June.
Kait, a 14-year-old swing bowler, performed a hat-trick bowling for Cornwood 3rd XI against Ottery St Mary 2nd XI. Cornwood won the match by eight wickets.
Lady cricketers are not that rare in the Devon League - Cornwood have Jess Jones in their ranks and can open the bowling with two ladies - but none have ever performed the hat-trick before.
The judging panel at sponsors Francis Clarke thought Kait's achievement deserved the new player of the month award of a £50 cheque. The award is usually toasted by breaking open a bottle of bubbly, but not this time.
"Given Kait's age I was unable to present her with the usual bubbly and opted for some Haribo instead," revealed judging panel chairman Paul Collings.
The award was only instigated at the start of the current (2011) season. Kait is in good company as the first winner was Devon batsman David Lye of Exmouth.
