Phoebe’s stunning “six-fer”

Twelve-year-old Phoebe Smith, from Redcliffe, has hit the Sunshine Coast for six in Queensland Grade cricket – with the ball, not the bat.

Phoebe had a stunning “six-fer” after being called into the Sandgate-Redcliffe Gators’ Second Grade women’s team for their Queensland Premier C match on Sunday.

The Redcliffe City Cyclones player opened the bowling and took the first six wickets, for a career-best 6-14 from eight overs, beating her 3-8 for Queensland.

Stunning start

It included a wicket with her first ball and a double-wicket maiden for her first over.

Phoebe’s 6-14 was, at the time, the second-best bowling performance this season by a Gator in Queensland Grade cricket, behind only Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson (7-47).

“The first wicket surprised me, as it was my first ball,” said Phoebe, a student at Redcliffe State High School. “I was just trying to get it straight.

“When I kept taking wickets, I was happy and relieved to be helping the team and repaying coach Jack Doyle as he was the one who invited me to play.”

Exciting bonus

Unfortunately, Phoebe’s remarkable efforts could not save Gators’ from defeat, but she now has a combined 8-31 off 12 overs in her two senior Gators’ matches.

“(Phoebe) just being given the new ball was exciting, the wickets were just a bonus,” said her dad Neal, who coaches at Cyclones.

“The plan is always just to have fun and enjoy the journey. Phoebe is only 12 and plays a lot of other sports. We will be guided by what she wants to do.

“She plays in the Under 14 Redcliffe Cycles’ Boys team with her mates and Cyclones will always be her priority.

“We want to encourage more boys and girls to play. We have a fantastic club.”

Best bowler

Phoebe’s older brother Fletcher has been playing for Redcliffe City Cyclones for five years and Phoebe started when she got fed up sitting watching.

Last year she made the Sunshine Coast Region Schools 10-12 Years Girls’ team for the state titles.

After taking 12 wickets Phoebe was named in the state team for national titles in Adelaide and picked up Queensland’s Best Bowler and Player of the Carnival.

This season she is also in the 12 Years Sunshine Coast School Girls team and the Brisbane North Junior Cricket Association Under 13 squad.

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