Samantha Marie Betts (born 6 February 1996) is an Australian cricketer who plays for South Australia.[1][2]

Samantha Betts
Betts batting for SA Scorpions, 2018
Personal information
Full name
Samantha Marie Betts
Born (1996-02-16) 16 February 1996 (age 28)
Orroroo, South Australia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleBowler
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2012/13–presentSouth Australia (squad no. 14)
2015/16–2018/19Adelaide Strikers (squad no. 14)
2016Hampshire
2019Hampshire
2019/20–2021/22Perth Scorchers
Career statistics
Competition WLA WT20
Matches 76 66
Runs scored 418 221
Batting average 9.50 10.52
100s/50s 0/1 0/0
Top score 59 31
Balls bowled 2,979 827
Wickets 92 38
Bowling average 24.93 25.63
5 wickets in innings 4 0
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 5/20 3/15
Catches/stumpings 18/– 14/–
Source: CricketArchive, 18 February 2024

A native of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Betts won selection on the Scorpions' rookie list as a 17-year old schoolgirl for the 2012–13 season, after being spotted by former Australian international player Shelley Nitschke. She had previously done "a fair bit of training and stuff with the guys at the West Broken Hill Cricket Club", and had played in a women's competition in Adelaide.[3][4]

As a Scorpions rookie, Betts continued to live and attend school in Broken Hill, while travelling to Adelaide once each week to train with the Scorpions.[3]

After making her Scorpions debut during the 2012–13 season, Betts steadily improved to become a mainstay bowler in the Scorpions squad, providing support for the team's strike bowler Megan Schutt. She also worked heavily on her batting. In the 2015–16 Women's National Cricket League competition, her best Scorpions bowling performance was 3/39 against Victorian Spirit.[4][5]

Betts was a member of the Adelaide Strikers' squad from its inaugural WBBL01 season (2015–16) until 2019.[6] In 2016, she was awarded the Adam Gilchrist Cricket Scholarship to travel to the UK and represent Hampshire. The Scholarship, funded by the Lord's Taverners, is presented to the best female cricketer in Australia who is 21 or younger and grew up in rural Australia.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Samantha Betts". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Samantha Betts". CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b Sheffield, Ben (12 July 2012). "Samantha to smash 'em for six". Barrier Daily Truth. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  4. ^ a b Argent, Peter (22 October 2013). "Betts makes mark". Barrier Daily Truth. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Samantha Betts". SACA website. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  6. ^ Strikers Media (5 December 2015). "Strikers sign Websters Lawyers and bowling duo for rebel WBBL|01". Adelaide Strikers website. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  7. ^ SACA Media (26 February 2016). "Samantha Betts receives Adam Gilchrist Cricket Scholarship". SACA website. Retrieved 7 March 2017.

External links edit

  Media related to Samantha Betts at Wikimedia Commons