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In an exciting Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024 encounter at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Thunder emerged victorious over Sydney Sixers by 18 runs. Batting first, the Thunder set a competitive total. The Sixers fought back with a spirited batting, but fell short, losing the match in the final over.
Heather Knight powers Sydney Thunder to a competitive total
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Sydney Thunder began steadily. Chamari Athapaththu anchored the innings with 33 runs off 35 balls, and Georgia Voll chipped in with 17 off 16. Phoebe Litchfield‘s brisk 34 off 25 helped accelerate the innings, but it was Heather Knight who stole the show, smashing 50 runs from 31 balls with eight boundaries. Their collective efforts brought Thunder to a solid total of 158/6 in 20 overs.
Amelia Kerr was the standout bowler for the Sixers, claiming 2 wickets for 23 runs in her 3 overs, while Ashleigh Gardner and Lauren Cheatle also took key wickets to keep the Thunder’s score within reach.
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Ashleigh Gardner’s spirited knock goes in vain
Chasing 159 for victory, Sydney Sixers Women struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Thunder bowling attack. While Gardner kept the Sixers in the game with a fluent 49 off 36 balls, her dismissal tilted the game back in Thunder’s favor. Ellyse Perry and Kerr made promising starts, scoring 15 and 21, respectively, but couldn’t convert them into big scores. Maitlan Brown’s 20 off 17 was the last notable resistance, as the Sixers were bowled out for 140 in 19.4 overs.
Samantha Bates leads Sydney Thunder’s fine bowling performance
Sydney Thunder’s bowlers performed admirably to defend the target. Samantha Bates was instrumental, taking 3 wickets for just 22 runs in her full quota of 4 overs. Taneale Peschel and Hannah Darlington provided solid support, picking up 2 wickets each, while Athapaththu added to her all-round performance with 2 wickets for 29 runs. Their cohesive effort ultimately restricted the Sixers, securing an 18-run win and valuable points in the tournament.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
