Thunder go through to WBBL final as Heat denied shot at third successive title

Sydney Thunder will be looking for their second WBBL title when they take on first-time finalists Melbourne Stars in the final

Brisbane Heat’s hopes of a third successive WBBL crown were quashed by Sydney Thunder as Rachael Haynes and her team defeated Heat by 12 runs at North Sydney Oval.

Haynes was the star of the show for Thunder as her unbeaten 48 from 44 balls helped propel her side to 143 for 6 in their 20 overs.

England’s Tammy Beaumont scored 27 opening the batting. Her England captain Heather Knight, who was named in the WBBL team of the tournament, scored 17; Sammy-Jo Johnson (13) was the only other player to reach double figures.

Pressure was getting to Heat’s bowlers as they conceded 16 extras – 14 of which were wides. South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk was the pick of the Heat bowlers, claiming 2-11 of three overs. There was a wicket each for Nicola Hancock, Amelia Kerr and Jess Jonassen.

In reply, the chase was a tight one and the game went down to the wire.

Laura Kimmince smashed 37 off 17 balls and was backed up by Nadine de Klerk (27), Georgia Redmayne (25) and Jess Jonassen (19).

Heat were 119 for 5, requiring a further 25 runs from 28 balls. They should have wrapped the game up but instead they lost five wickets for 11 runs, including two in two balls to put Hannah Darlington on a hat-trick.

They were all out for 131 and denied the chance at going for their third title in a row. Instead, Sydney Thunder will be looking for their second WBBL title when they take on first-time finalists Melbourne Stars in the final.

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