England cricket stars rally around as 11-year-old girl hit in mouth by Phil Salt six at Hundred game
With big-hitting batters and skilful bowlers, The Hundred guarantees excitement and has quickly soared in popularity.
But with so many shots clearing the boundary rope for six, sometimes things can go wrong.
Cricket mad Emily Vandersteen, 11, was in the stands at Old Trafford for Tuesday night’s Hundred match between Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire.
She had been thrilled to meet England star Alex Hartley before the women’s match that kick-started the night’s double-header.
But during the early stages of the men’s match that followed, Originals opener Phil Salt smashed one of his towering sixes into the stands.
In a freakish accident, the ball bounced off a metal railing, sharply changed direction and hit Emily, who was sat in the seventh row, in the mouth.
![11-year-old cricket fan Emily Vandersteen, pictured with Welsh Fire player Alex Hartley, needed stitches after being hit in the mouth by a huge Phil Salt six at Tuesday's Hundred match](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/17/08/61458793-11119185-image-a-26_1660722579975.jpg)
11-year-old cricket fan Emily Vandersteen, pictured with Welsh Fire player Alex Hartley, needed stitches after being hit in the mouth by a huge Phil Salt six at Tuesday’s Hundred match
![Manchester Originals opener Salt smashed four sixes during the early stages of the match - one of which hit a metal railing in the stands and hit 11-year-old Emily in the face](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/17/08/61458795-11119185-image-a-27_1660722632097.jpg)
Manchester Originals opener Salt smashed four sixes during the early stages of the match – one of which hit a metal railing in the stands and hit 11-year-old Emily in the face
She was taken to A&E and required a set of stitches, leaving her only able to eat through a straw.
Salt, Hartley and Kate Cross were quick to rally around and check on how Emily was doing on social media.
‘Emily loves cricket and is a bowler for the Cheshire under-11 county team,’ her mother Mel told Sportsmail.
![Emily was taken to A&E and needed stitches in one corner of her mouth after the freak accident at Old Trafford](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/17/08/61458791-11119185-image-a-31_1660722684537.jpg)
Emily was taken to A&E and needed stitches in one corner of her mouth after the freak accident at Old Trafford
‘She has been playing cricket every day all summer and this week was playing at the Malvern Festival.
‘She was playing for Cheshire against Cambridge, Norfolk and Lancashire. They were meant to play Durham on Tuesday but it was rained off and so we went to Old Trafford.
‘We were saying it was ironic she has played so much cricket this summer and not suffered any injuries – then this happens when we go and watch it.
‘Emily loves Kate Cross and Alex Hartley and always listens to the No Balls podcast they present.
‘She was wearing a t-shirt with their names on it because it was the big battle of the No Balls presenters.
‘They’ve really inspired her to play cricket and her dream is to one day play for England.
‘The Hundred has been amazing for females and it’s inspiring for the young girls watching.’
Medical staff at Old Trafford saw the incident unfold on screens showing Sky Sports’ live coverage and rushed round to treat Emily’s injuries.
The family were in A&E for three hours as Emily received stitches in the corner of her mouth.
![England international Kate Cross bowls for the Manchester Originals during the match](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/17/08/61459727-11119185-image-a-32_1660722746292.jpg)
England international Kate Cross bowls for the Manchester Originals during the match
![Alex Hartley appeals for LBW while bowling for Welsh Fire during The Hundred contest](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/17/08/61459769-11119185-image-a-33_1660722789367.jpg)
Alex Hartley appeals for LBW while bowling for Welsh Fire during The Hundred contest
Though still shocked after what had happened, Emily kept asking her mum for score updates with the game still going on.
‘I was out at 5am looking for straws,’ Mel added. ‘But she’s even struggling to suck food or drink through a straw at the moment, we’ve had to drip feed her.’
After seeing Mel’s tweet about the accident, Salt replied: ‘So sorry to hear this, hope she is feeling ok now and the A&E trip was alright.
![Salt tweeted Emily's mum to check up on her after his towering six struck her in the mouth](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/17/08/61459803-11119185-image-a-34_1660722843855.jpg)
Salt tweeted Emily’s mum to check up on her after his towering six struck her in the mouth
![Kate Cross also checked Emily was doing well after her visit to A&E on Tuesday evening](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/17/08/61459801-11119185-image-a-35_1660722870540.jpg)
Kate Cross also checked Emily was doing well after her visit to A&E on Tuesday evening
‘Please DM me and we can arrange an Originals care package to help along a speedy recovery.’
Hartley also asked after Emily and said she had the ‘best t-shirt on the circuit.’
Cross tweeted: ‘How is she doing Mel? Hopefully going to be a speedy recovery. Love the t-shirt too.’
It was a good night for the Originals with both the male and female sides claiming wins over the Welsh Fire.