Ellyse Perry and Erin Burns shine as Sydney Sixers edge Brisbane Heat in WBBL opener

Perry and Burns shared a 93-run fourth-wicket partnership to put their side in command, but it took a six from Maitlan Brown off the penultimate delivery to get the Sixers over the line

Mackay: Brisbane Heat 141-8, Sydney Sixers 143-6 – Sydney Sixers won by four wickets

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Ellyse Perry and Erin Burns starred as Sydney Sixers edged Brisbane Heat in the opening match of the 2022/23 Women's Big Bash.

Perry picked up two wickets and shared a 93-run fourth-wicket partnership with Burns to put the two-time champions in a commanding position. However, it took a six from Maitlan Brown, batting at No.8, off the penultimate delivery of the match for the Sixers to get over the line, winning by four wickets. 

Chasing 142, the Sixers found themselves in trouble early on, losing Alyssa Healy (0), Suzie Bates (4) and Ashleigh Gardner (2) inside five overs to slip to 25 for 3, before half-centuries from Burns and Perry got them back on track.

However, Jess Jonassen struck twice in three balls in the power surge (a two-over powerplay taken any time after the 10th over) to bring the Heat back into the contest. Burns picked out Amelia Kerr to depart for 50 (37) while Laura Harris took the catch to dismiss Perry for 55 (48), leaving the Sixers five down with 23 required from 19.

^{Maitlan Brown hitting the match-winning six [Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images]}

That equation became eight from six heading into the final over and later five from two after Georgia Voll – who had never previously bowled a ball in the WBBL – conceded just three runs and picked up the wicket of Sophie Ecclestone in a nerveless death bowling display.

But Brown ensured there would be one final twist in the tale, hoicking Voll for the unlikeliest of sixes to seal the win for the Sixers.

Earlier, Sydney Sixers had been left to rue missed chances as Georgia Redmayne, dropped by Perry on 10, made a brisk 49 (39) at the top of the order for Brisbane Heat.

She eventually departed in the 12th over, caught by Ange Genford off the bowling of Lauren Cheatle, but while wickets fell steadily throughout the remainder of the innings, cameos from A Kerr (19 off 15) and Charli Knott (21 not out off 9) helped the home side to a competitive total of 141 for 8.

Cheatle was the standout bowler for Sydney Sixers, taking 1 for 18, while there were three wickets for Brown and two for Perry. Ecclestone (1 for 31) and Genford (1 for 13) both collected wickets on debut.