AMONG A GALAXY of international stars, Ireland’s Kim Garth seized the most unlikely of chances and made a name for herself at the Women’s Big Bash League tournament.
The 20-year-old arrived in Australia at the start of the year for a three-week stint with the Sydney Sixers as part of the International Cricket Council’s Associate Rookie Programme. It was expected to be nothing more than an opportunity to train with a full-time outfit.
Cricket Ireland / Twitter
Cricket Ireland / Twitter / Twitter
But by the end of it, and after an incredible turn of events, she was starring in the final as the Sixers held off the Perth Scorchers to win the second edition of the leading Twenty20 tournament in the world.
It was an incredible rise for the Ireland international who shared a dressing room with the some of the biggest names in the game including Sara McGlashan, Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry.
The departure of South African international Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk halfway through the campaign opened the door for Garth after she had impressed in training.
Then an injury to Perry — the Sixers captain and leading all-rounder in the world — in the final game of the regular season increased the role Garth had to play at the business end of the tournament.
In six games, the Dubliner took as many wickets, including figures of 1/20 in Saturday’s final at the Waca in Perth, to become the accidental hero of the Sixers’ victorious campaign.
“I’m obviously hugely excited to have even played in the WBBL let alone win it,” she said afterwards.
“It’s been an amazing experience playing with and against the best players in the world. I’ve loved every minute of it and learned a huge amount. I’d just like to say a huge thanks to the Sixers players and support staff who were great to me.”
Garth now travels to Dubai to link-up with Ireland for two warm-up games against Scotland before the World Cup qualifiers in Sri Lanka next week.
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