Joanne Hicks has rewritten the record books in international cricket, becoming the oldest player in the sport's history, male or female, to claim a five wicket haul in a match, achieving the feat at the age of 51 years and 173 days.

The Isle of Man off spinner produced figures of 5 for 10 from her four overs against Greece in the Women's Continental Cup, played at the Moara Vlasiei Cricket Ground in Romania on Thursday, August 27, helping her side to a commanding nine wicket win.

With Isle of Man electing to field first, Hicks tore through the Greek batting order, dismissing Lydia Katsimari, Sofia Nefeli Georgota, Aggeliki Ioanna Argyropoulou, Theodora Parisi Mesimeri and Alekcandra Kourkoulou, four of them either bowled or trapped leg before.

Greece were bowled out for just 52 in 15 overs, with Argyropoulou top scoring on 17 from 36 balls, while teammate Georgina Ford supported Hicks with figures of 2 for 9 at the other end. Isle of Man made light work of the modest target, reaching 56 for 1 in only six overs.

Libby Moore finished unbeaten on 24 and Grace Cottier chipped in with 19 as the chase was wrapped up with 84 balls to spare, sealing a comfortable victory and earning Hicks the player of the match award for her efforts.

Her performance eclipsed a record that had stood for 94 years, previously held by Australia's Bert Ironmonger, who claimed a five wicket haul against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1932 at the age of 49 years and 314 days.

Ironmonger's effort remains one of the more remarkable in Test history in its own right, having taken 5 for 6 and 6 for 18 in the same match as South Africa were dismissed for 36 and 45, with Australia winning by an innings and 72 runs.

Remarkably, this was not Hicks' first five wicket haul in the later stages of her career. She had already claimed 5 for 10 against Malta in August 2024 at the age of 49 years and 162 days, before backing it up just six days later with 5 for 22 against Greece, a performance that made her the oldest woman to achieve the feat at the time.

Thursday's effort therefore marked her third career five wicket haul in women's T20 internationals, matching her own career best figures and cementing her status as the first bowler, across men's or women's international cricket, to take five wickets in an innings after turning 50.

Hicks' own journey to the record has been anything but conventional, making her debut for Isle of Man only in her late 40s before developing into one of the side's most reliable spin options. More than three years on from that debut, she has now achieved something no bowler managed before her.

Oldest five wicket hauls in international cricket

51 years 173 days, Joanne Hicks, Isle of Man, women's T20, 2026

49 years 314 days, Bert Ironmonger, Australia, men's Test, 1932

49 years 234 days, Bert Ironmonger, Australia, men's Test, 1931

49 years 168 days, Joanne Hicks, Isle of Man, women's T20, 2024

49 years 162 days, Joanne Hicks, Isle of Man, women's T20, 2024