WBBL 07, Match 37: Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat
Match 37 was played between Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide on Tuesday (November 9). Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat first.
Despite winning the toss, Sixers couldn’t do much in the powerplay as Heat bowlers kept it tight. Sixers only managed to score 33 runs and had lost Ellyse Perry’s wicket in the powerplay. Alyssa Healy struggled to score runs and got out in the 12th off Nicola Hancock at 16 off 26.
On the other hand, Ashleigh Gardner was hitting boundaries all over. She took her charge to the next level by smashing Jess Jonassen and Nicola Hancock for two consecutive sixes in the last two overs respectively. Gardner scored unbeaten 82 runs from just 52 balls which included 6 fours and 5 sixes. At the other end, Bolton stayed not out at 38 off 24 which included 6 fours. The partnership between Gardner and Bolten helped Sixers reach 162 for 2 in 20 overs.
In return, Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne gave a wonderful start to the Brisbane Heat and the team had 51 for 0 in the powerplay. However, the partnership did not last long as in the 7th over, Redmayne ran herself out at 27 from 18 balls.
Harris brought up her half-century by hitting a four off Radha Yadav in the 11th over. Yadav continued with the attack and gave a huge breakthrough to the Sixers by getting Harris wicket in the 13th over. She made 54 runs from 39 balls which included 4 fours and two sixes.
When the required run rate kept ticking, Laura Kimmince brought it down by smashing Gardner for a four and a six. Aggressive batting performances from Georgia Voll and Kimmince helped Brisbane Heat win the match by 8 wickets with 9 balls remaining. Voll and Kimmince stayed not out at 48 from 41 balls and 23 from 15 balls respectively. Gardner was named as the player of the match for her wonderful 82 runs.
WBBL 07, Match 38: Sydney Thunder Vs Adelaide Strikers
Match 38 was played between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide on Tuesday (November 9). Adelaide Strikers won the toss and decided to bat first.
Sydney Thunder looked in control as Adelaide Strikers only managed to score 29 runs in the powerplay. However, the Strikers openers found their form right after the powerplay and began to deal in boundaries.
However, just before the drinks Lauren Smith clean bowled Mack at 31 off 28. Dane van Niekerk continued taking on bowlers and in the 11th over, she smashed Deepti Sharma for 3 sixes, had 23 runs in that over.
Sammy-Jo Johnson gave a breakthrough to Thunder by getting Dane van Niekerk’s wicket at 58 off 46 in the 15th over. When one thought that it would be an opening for the team in Green, Laura Wolvaardt had other ideas. In the 18th over, she smashed Samantha Bates for two sixes and a four and then ended her innings with 54 from 32 balls; helped Strikers reach 176 for 4 in 20 overs.
In return, Thunder had a poor start as they had lost Smriti Mandhana early. The Indian batter smashed Jemma Barsby for a six and then got out the very next ball.
A steady partnership from Tahlia Wilson and Phoebe Litchfield brought Thunder back into the game. However, in the 13th over, Amanda Wellington took Litchfield’s wicket at 40 off 28. Tahlia McGrath then removed Wilson in the 15th over at 42 off 46. Thunder were at 96 for 4, needing 82 from 32 balls.
When the target looked ungettable, Issy Wong gave a glimpse of hope as she smashed 3 consecutive sixes off van Niekerk in the 16th over. Wong smashed another two back-to-back sixes against the world’s best bowler Megan Schutt. Unfortunately, Amanda Wellington proved too good for her and she was dismissed at 43 runs from just 17 balls which included 6 sixes. Despite Wong’s amazing effort, Sydney Thunder fell 18 runs short. Wolvaardt was named as the player of the match.
WBBL 07, Match 39: Melbourne Stars Vs Perth Scorchers
Match 39 was played between Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide on Wednesday (November 10). Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to bat first.
Melbourne Stars had a poor start as they lost three wickets of Meg Lanning, Annabel Sutherland and Maia Bouchier within powerplay. Later, Alana King in the 8th over clean bowled Elyse Villani at 16 off 22. The wickets kept falling at regular intervals.
Kim Garth kept the scorecard ticking but got out in the 17th over off Sophie Devine at 31 off 31. By the end of 17 overs, Stars were at 72 for 8. A brilliant bowling display from the bowlers helped Perth Scorchers restrict Melbourne Stars to 97 for 9 in 20 overs. Devine, King, and Graham took two wickets each. Kapp and Mills took 1 wicket each.
Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine, the best opening pair of this WBBL, chased the total in just 10.5 overs. Consistent Beth Mooney scored another half-century and stayed not out at 57 off 38 balls which included 10 fours. Sophie Devine scored unbeaten 35 off 27. Perth Scorchers outplayed Melbourne Stars. Devine was named as the player of the match for her 35 runs and 2 wickets.
WBBL 07, Match 40: Sydney Sixers Vs Adelaide Strikers
The 40th match of WBBL07 was played between Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide on Wednesday (November 10). Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat first.
Ellyse Perry had a good start to the game but however, she ran herself out at 24 off 19. Brown then got rid of Gardner for a duck in the same over. An unbelievable turn of events left Sixers at 43 for 3 by the end of the powerplay.
Shafali Verma joined Nicole Bolton in the middle and added an important partnership of 82 runs. Verma scored her 2nd half-century of WBBL and 1st as a middle-order batter. Her unbeaten 53 from 40 balls helped Sixers reach the total of 142 for 4 in 20 overs.
Maitlan Brown had an excellent start with the ball as she removed Dane van Niekerk in the first over. In-form Laura Wolvaardt joined Katie Mack and both started attacking. By the end of the powerplay, Strikers were at 47 for 1.
Right before the drinks break Wolvaardt threw her wicket away by making an attempt for a 2nd run and was ran out at 33 off 27. However, Mack kept going, scored her 4th WBBL half-century in 40 balls.
McGrath celebrated her birthday in style by getting the winning runs through a six. Mack and McGrath stayed not out at 67 off 55 which included 6 fours and 40 of 30 which included 3 fours and 1 six respectively.
Shafali Verma’s half-century went in vain as Adelaide Strikers won the match by 8 wickets with 8 balls remaining. Mack was named as the player of the match.
