Wagga teenager Rachel Trenaman has stamped herself as a future star of Australian cricket after spinning Sydney Thunder to the top of the WBBL ladder with a stunning debut performance.
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Trenaman, 17, ripped the heart out of cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers with a blistering spell of 2-11 to send them spiralling down to 6-33 after just nine overs.
Brought into the attack after Thunder team mate Lisa Griffith (2-24 from four overs) snared the early wickets of Ellyse Perry (13) and Alyssa Healy (9), Trenaman wasted no time in settling in and claimed the wicket of star batter Ashleigh Gardner (0) with just her third ball.
The young leg-spinner lured the Australian superstar out of her crease with a wider delivery, leaving wicket keeper Rachel Priest to whip off the bails for a simple stumping.
Trenaman would’ve wrapped up her first ever over as a wicket maiden were it not for a stray wide, but the youngster would claim that prize in her third over of the day.
Sixers’ all-rounder and South African skipper Dane van Niekerk was her next victim, edging a skidding delivery through to Priest who held on for her second dismissal as Trenaman bagged a wicket maiden to leave the Sixers reeling.
Trenaman rounded out her four overs with a stunning economy of 2.75 to go with the wickets of Gardner and van Niekerk and conceded just one boundary.
Thunder duo Rachael Haynes and Rene Farrell both paid tribute to the Wagga superstar, who fittingly received her debut cap from fellow Riverina star Alex Blackwell before the game.
“Rach is a really exciting young player,” a mic’d up Haynes said from the field.
“It’s good to see Rach on debut pitching them well,” Farrell added during her stint in the commentary box.
Only a late rearguard from Marizanne Kapp (40 not out) and Lauren Smith (22) saved the Sixers’ blushes, taking them to 7-98 from their 20 overs.
Trenaman’s batting services weren’t required by the Thunder as Haynes (43) and Naomi Stalenberg (44 not out) steered the side home with 14 balls to spare.
The teenager missed out on player of the match honours with Griffith getting the nod for her key brace but her name will be etched in the Thunder’s record books for equal best bowling figures on debut, capping off a dream induction in the green and black.
She’ll no doubt take part in the remaining WBBL season as the Thunder eye off a minor premiership.
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