White Ferns star Suzie Bates was involved in a bizarre dismissal in her side's six-wicket Super Smash defeat to Auckland Hearts, hitting her own stumps for Otago Sparks.
A day on from an unbeaten 101 runs against Northern Brave, Sparks captain Bates appeared set to torment bowlers again after winning the toss and opting to bat first in Queenstown.
But after making it to 10 runs, Bates somehow managed to clip her own stumps to be out hit wicket after punching a ball from Amie Hucker into the off side.
The dismissal was the third time in Bates' decorated career that she'd been out hit wicket.
Without a contribution from Bates, Otago limped to 130/7 from their 20 overs - largely down to 40 from 39 balls to Kate Ebrahim, backing up from 52 in the Sparks' 20-run victory over the Brave on Wednesday.
"We didn't have our best day today, with [the] bat, ball or in the field," Bates said post-match. "But we kept fighting right to the very end - that's what this team's about.
"Some days in Twenty20 cricket, it doesn't don't go your way.
"We had a bit of bad luck and unco things out there," Bates said in reference to her dismissal.
Arlene Kelly finished as the pick of Auckland's bowlers with 2/15 from her four overs, while White Ferns spinner Fran Jonas took 2/29.
Chasing 133 for victory, Auckland reached the target with three balls to spare - thanks to 42 from opener Anna Browning before captain Lauren Down finished the job with an unbeaten 44 from 34 balls.
The win was Auckland's first of the season, moving the Hearts up to third on the women's Super Smash ladder after their opening two matches. The Sparks meanwhile drop a place into fourth, with one victory and two defeats from their start to the season.
Otago Sparks 130/7 (Ebrahim 40; Kelly 2/15, Jonas 2/29) Auckland Hearts 133/4 (Down 44 not out, Browning 42; Blakely 1/4)
