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In the 26th match of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024 at North Sydney Oval, Brisbane Heat managed to hold their nerve and defeat Sydney Sixers by 12 runs.
Grace Harris powers Brisbane Heat to a respectable total
Brisbane Heat won the toss and elected to bat first. The Heat got off to a decent start, with Grace Harris leading the charge, scoring 39 runs off 26 balls, including three fours and two sixes. Georgia Redmayne (28 runs off 23 balls) provided steady support, but the Heat’s middle order struggled to gain momentum. Jemimah Rodrigues (8 runs off 11 balls) and Jess Jonassen (22 runs off 19 balls) fell quickly, and the team found themselves at 79/5.
Amelia Kerr impresses with the ball
However, some late resistance came from Laura Harris, who smashed 12 runs off just six balls guided the Heat to a total of 139/9 in their 20 overs. The key bowling performances for Sydney Sixers came from Amelia Kerr (4 wickets for 23 runs), Sophie Ecclestone (2 wickets for 18 runs), and Ashleigh Gardner (2 wickets for 23 runs), who kept the Brisbane batters in check throughout the innings.
Sydney Sixers struggles in the chase
Chasing 140 to win, Sydney Sixers had a shaky start, losing key wickets early in the innings. Openers Alyssa Healy (1 off 3 balls) and Ellyse Perry (1 off 5 balls) were dismissed cheaply, leaving the Sixers in a precarious position. Amelia, who had starred with the ball earlier, managed to add 4 runs off just 2 balls but was dismissed soon after.
Gardner (10 runs off 17 balls) and Hollie Armitage (17 runs off 26 balls) tried to rebuild the innings, but regular wickets fell, and the pressure mounted. Sarah Bryce (30 runs off 26 balls) and Ecclestone (24 runs off 18 balls) provided some late resistance, but the target was too steep to overcome. Sydney Sixers were eventually bowled out for 127/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
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Jess Jonassen leads Brisbane Heat’s brilliant bowling
Brisbane Heat’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance to restrict the Sixers’ chase. Shikha Pandey (2 wickets for 25 runs) and Grace Parsons (2 wickets for 18 runs) were impressive. But the standout performer with the ball was Jonassen (3 wickets for 24 runs), bagging key wickets at crucial moments. Nicola Hancock (1 wicket for 33 runs) and Lucy Hamilton (0 wickets for 19 runs) also contributed to the win, with the latter managing to keep things tight in the middle overs.
Despite a strong fightback from Sydney Sixers, the Heat’s bowlers held their nerve and restricted their opponents to 127/8, chasing a target of 140. Jonassen’s outstanding performance with the ball earned her the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
