WBBL Review: Melbourne sides win, Sixers victorious in Sydney derby

As the round-robin stage of the WBBL nears its end, it's all heating up. Sixers brushed off Thunder in the Sydney derby, both Melbourne sides were victorious and Brisbane saw off Perth to keep their hopes of a third successive title alive

Heat beat Scorchers in a last over thriller

Brisbane Heat got over the line with four balls to spare, winning a final over thriller at Hurstville Oval by four wickets.

Laura Kimmince was the star of the show, scoring 40 not out off just 17 balls – striking four fours and three sixes helping her side chase down the required 138 runs for victory. Maddy Green (35) and Georgie Redmayne (31) both made valuable contributions as Heat made it five wins in a row, moving one step closer to become back-to-back-to-back champions.

In the first innings, it was Beth Mooney who Perth Scorchers relied on to put them into a comfortable position. She scored 49 off 39 balls; Mathilda Carmichael (35) was the only other player to make a meaningful contribution. Chloe Piparo (17) was the only other player to reach double figures as Perth reached 137 for 8 in their 20 overs.

Jess Jonassen and Grace Harris took two wickets each. There was also a scalp for Delissa Kimmince, Nicola Hancock and Amelia Kerr.

Stars to finish top after blowing Hurricanes away

With two rounds of group matches remaining, Melbourne Stars can no longer be caught at the top. This is after they defeated Hobart Hurricanes by 39 runs at Hurstville Oval.

Annabel Sutherland was player of the match and rightly so as the teenager struck 72 off 51 balls as well as taking a wicket in the second innings. Opener Elyse Villani scored 56 off 47 balls as Melbourne Stars reached a daunting total of 159 for 3.

In reply, Hobart’s top five batters all made starts but none could go on as Hurricanes stuttered to 120 for 8 in their 20 overs.

Katherine Brunt was the pick of the Melbourne bowlers, taking 2-12 in four overs – bowling 16 dot balls. Sophie Day took a couple and the remaining Stars bowlers picked up one wicket each.

_{Katherine Brunt bowled 16 dot balls as Stars defeated Hurricanes}

Sixers prevail in Sydney Derby

Four runs was the winning margin in the Sydney derby as Sixers came out on top against Thunder.

Dane van Niekirk (45) and Alyssa Healy (44) were the stars of the show as Sixers reached a respectable total of 147 for 7 in their 20 overs. Captain Ellyse Perry (28) and Erin Burns (13) reached double figures. Sammy-Jo Johnson took 3-25 for Thunder; there were also a couple of wickets each for Hannah Darlington and Shabnim Ismail.

In reply, it was Phoebe Litchfield who nearly won Thunder the game with 46 off 36 balls. She arrived at the crease with the score 45 for 3 at the end of the eighth over and got her side so close. Thunder captain Rachael Haynes scored 27 and both Heather Knight and Rachel Trenaman scored 16 as Trevor Griffin’s team reached 143 for 8 in their 20 overs.

Thunder are third in the table and Sixers are fifth; both on 12 points. Only 0.335 separates them on net run rate with two matches to play. Will both sides sneak through? Will one miss out? Will neither make it? Who knows…

_{Phoebe Litchfield nearly won the game for Sydney Thunder}

Renegades rise up table after stunning Strikers

It may be too little too late for Melbourne Renegades but they have lifted off the bottom of the table at long last after a seven-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers.

Having won two of their last three matches, one wonders what could have been for Renegades, but they would’ve taken comfort in both openers making crucial contributions. Sophie Molineux hit 52 and Lizelle Lee struck 48 as the team in red got home with 15 balls to spare chasing 123.

Carly Leeson was key to restricting Adelaide Strikers to 122 for 6 in their 20 overs. She took 3-14 in her four overs, finishing with an economy rate of 3.50 which is staggering for T20 cricket. 12 of those 24 balls were dots believe it or not.

Leeson got the big wickets of South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt (36) and West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor (16). However, Madeline Penna evaded her as she struck 26 not out off only 13 balls.