South Launceston's Ellie Mathews matches it with the men

Playing her third game of senior men's cricket for the Knights' third-grade silver side, the 20-year-old University of South Queensland student took 4-1 to steer the team to victory against Launceston.

Coming on in the 19^th over with Launceston teetering at five wickets down, the off-spinner changed the course of the game.

"I came on and I don't know that the guys expected me to bowl how I bowled, which was a nice surprise," she said.

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

"I think they probably expected me to be a quick or something like that and then I came in off a couple of steps."

Describing things as "happening quickly", Mathews took her first wicket with the last ball of the 19^th over before taking another, putting her on a hat-trick.

Despite claiming an edge, it fell short of fellow women's teammate Ava Curtis at second slip but two more wickets followed to dismiss Launceston for 62 - 68 runs short of South's total.

Admittedly nervous before the batting innings, Mathews' worries went away with the ball in hand thanks to the supportive club culture.

"I had a wicked time, especially having such a one-club mentality at South.

"I train with a lot of those guys week in, week out, so I knew them quite well and it was a good opportunity to actually play alongside them and have a good laugh."

The 14-ball spell was a career-best effort for the Greater Northern Raiders representative and multiple-time Cricket North and Greater Northern Cup winner, with all four dismissals bowled.