Bella Armstrong

{{short description|New Zealand cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Bella Armstrong

| female = true

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Bella Grace Armstrong

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|11|16|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| nickname =

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| heightm =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium

| role = All-rounder

| international = true

| internationalspan =

| country = New Zealand

| onetest =

| testdebutdate =

| testdebutyear =

| testdebutagainst =

| testcap =

| lasttestdate =

| lasttestyear =

| lasttestagainst =

| odidebutdate =

| odidebutyear =

| odidebutagainst =

| odicap =

| lastodidate =

| lastodiyear =

| lastodiagainst =

| oneT20I = true

| T20Idebutdate = 8 October

| T20Idebutyear = 2023

| T20Idebutagainst = South Africa

| T20Icap = 66

| lastT20Idate =

| lastT20Iyear =

| lastT20Iagainst =

| club1 = Auckland

| year1 = {{nowrap|2015/16–present}}

| club2 = Dragons

| year2 = 2023

| columns = 3

| column1 = WT20I

| matches1 = 1

| runs1 = 11

| bat avg1 = 11.00

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 11

| deliveries1 = –

| wickets1 = –

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1 = 0/–

| column2 = WLA

| matches2 = 64

| runs2 = 583

| bat avg2 = 19.43

| 100s/50s2 = 1/2

| top score2 = 163*

| deliveries2 = 1,952

| wickets2 = 62

| bowl avg2 = 21.87

| fivefor2 = 1

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 7/18

| catches/stumpings2 = 13/–

| column3 = WT20

| matches3 = 67

| runs3 = 623

| bat avg3 = 15.19

| 100s/50s3 = 0/1

| top score3 = 71

| deliveries3 = 891

| wickets3 = 35

| bowl avg3 = 28.77

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 3/18

| catches/stumpings3 = 22/–

| date = 30 October 2023

| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1372/1372817/1372817.html CricketArchive

}}

Bella Grace Armstrong (born 16 November 1999) is a New Zealand cricketer who currently plays for Auckland. She plays as a right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler. She has also played for Irish side Dragons.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/bella-armstrong-966965 |title=Player Profile: Bella Armstrong |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=27 October 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1372/1372817/1372817.html |title=Player Profile: Bella Armstrong |work=CricketArchive |access-date=27 October 2023}}

She made her international debut in October 2023, in a Twenty20 International for New Zealand against South Africa.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-women-in-south-africa-2023-24-1389754/south-africa-women-vs-new-zealand-women-2nd-t20i-1392352/full-scorecard |title=2nd T20I, East London, October 8 2023, New Zealand Women tour of South Africa: South Africa Women v New Zealand Women |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=27 October 2023}}

Early and personal life

Armstrong was born on 16 November 1999 in Auckland. Armstrong is studying for a degree in sports science at Massey University.

Domestic career

Armstrong made her debut for Auckland in the 2015–16 New Zealand Women's One-Day Competition, against Northern Districts.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/871/871239.html |title=Northern Districts Women v Auckland Women, 30 January 2016 |work=CricketArchive |access-date=27 October 2023}} She was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2017–18 New Zealand Women's Twenty20 Competition, with 14 wickets at an average of 10.85.{{cite web| url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=12130;type=tournament | title=Records/New Zealand Cricket Women's Twenty20 Competition, 2017/18/Most Wickets |publisher=ESPN Cricinfo|access-date=27 October 2023}} In the 2019–20 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, in a match against Otago, Armstrong took 7/18 from her 9 overs, helping bowling the opposition out for 74.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/1117/1117338.html |title=Auckland Women v Otago Women, 7 December 2019 |work=CricketArchive |access-date=27 October 2023}} She went on to be the leading wicket-taker in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield that season, with 24 wickets at an average of 14.95.{{cite web| url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=13498;type=tournament | title=Records/New Zealand Cricket Women's One Day Competition, 2019/20/Most Wickets |publisher=ESPN Cricinfo|access-date=27 October 2023}}

In April 2023, it was announced that Armstrong was joining Dragons as an overseas player for the upcoming Super 20 Trophy and Super 50 Cup in Ireland.{{cite web |url=https://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/overseas-players-added-to-super-series-squads |title=Overseas players added to Super Series squads |work=Cricket Ireland |date=28 April 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023}} In the opening match of the Super 50 Cup, Armstrong hit 163* against Typhoons, the record for the highest individual score in the competition.{{cite web |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/lockerroom/mystery-injury-reinvents-new-white-fern |title=Mystery injury reinvents new White Fern |work=Newsroom |date=15 September 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://live.nvplay.com/ireland/?tab=m_scorecard#c1cc95bfa-1ada-49ed-a987-0385202c9299_m5455401a-8b85-49e3-81d4-78ca9a9cbf55 |title=Typhoons v Dragons, 18 June 2023 |work=NVPlay |access-date=27 October 2023}}

International career

Armstrong earned her first call-up to the New Zealand squad in August 2023 for the Twenty20 International series of the side's tour of South Africa.{{cite web| url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sa-vs-nz-kate-anderson-bella-armstrong-get-new-zealand-call-ups-1395464 |title=Kate Anderson, Bella Armstrong get New Zealand call-ups |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=31 August 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023}} She made her international debut in the second match of the T20I series, scoring 11 in a rain-curtailed match.

References

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