Adelaide Strikers wicketkeeper Bridget Patterson was kicked off the ground after a 119km/h ball hit her in the face during Tuesday’s WBBL win over the Sydney Sixers at North Sydney Oval.
During the fourth over of the run chase, Strikers seamer Darcie Brown produced a cross-seam delivery that beat the outside edge of Sixers captain Ellyse Perry, with the ball bouncing awkwardly in front of Patterson.
The 30-year-old immediately hit the turf in pain after being hit near his right eye socket and medics rushed to the scene. With blood visible near the wound, she left the field for further treatment with reserve wicketkeeper Ellie Johnston replacing her behind the stumps.
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Strikers later confirmed a preliminary investigation into Patterson’s injury was positive, but further testing will be required.
“It was a serious injury,” strikers manager Luke Williams told reporters after the game.
“Obviously we were all worried about her, but she appears to have escaped major injury.
“The cut was definitely unpleasant at the time.”
Patterson replaced Tegan McPharlin as the strikers’ wicketkeeper last summer, taking nine catches and 12 stumps as the Adelaide-based club secured their second successive WBBL title.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Strikers were all out for 171 after the Sixers won the toss and chose to bowl first in Sydney. Patterson top-scored with 44 (32) while Sixers spinner Ash Gardner took four wickets.
The hosts fell 11 runs short of the 172-run target despite another classy knock from Perry (54 off 28 balls) and a maiden WBBL half-century from Scottish wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce, who top-scored with 62 (44). The striker’s leg-spinner, Anesu Mushangwe, was the pick of the bowlers with 3-27 from four overs.
The Strikers next face Sydney Thunder at North Sydney Oval on Friday, with the first match scheduled for 3.45pm AEDT.
