Jemimah Rodrigues, one of just six Indians in the 2024 Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), has played a crucial role in Brisbane Heat’s successful campaign. In the high-stakes Challenger match against the in-form Sydney Thunder, she showed resilience and grit, contributing both in the field and with the bat, all while nursing an injury.
A live wire on the field, Rodrigues was struck on the wrist early in the Heat’s bowling innings while attempting to save a boundary off Charli Knott’s bowling in the 3rd over. As Georgia Voll swept the ball hard to the cow corner, Rodrigues sprinted in and made a diving effort to cut it off, preventing the boundary. However, the ball made direct contact with her wrist.
After the completion of the over, Rodrigues walked off the field briefly, returning soon after with her wrist taped. Just a few balls later, she was once again in the spotlight, diving to save a hard-hit boundary by Chamari Athapaththu in the covers.
The Heat restricted the Thunder to a target of 133/7, courtesy of a clinical bowling display led by spinners Grace Parsons and Jess Jonassen, who returned figures of 3/10 (3) and 2/33 (4), respectively.
In reply, the Heat lost Grace Harris early and out walked Rodrigues. Given her taped wrist, it wasn’t expected she would stride out in her regular batting position, but she defied the odds. On a duck, she survived a dropped chance and capitalized on it, striking at an impressive 143.33 in her quick-fire cameo. She smashed one magnificent maximum and five boundaries in her 30-ball 43*, before retiring hurt, with the Heat in a commanding position and the target well within reach.
Georgia Redmayne anchored the chase brilliantly, scoring a vital fifty, and guided the Heat to a dominant 9-wicket win, their sixth consecutive victory, securing a spot in the 2024 WBBL Final against Melbourne Renegades.
As the second-highest run-scorer for the Heat, closely behind Grace Harris, Jemimah Rodrigues has amassed 266 runs from 9 matches, averaging 38.00 with a strike rate of 142.24. While the full extent of her injury remains uncertain, the Heat will be hoping for her complete recovery ahead of the final.
Moreover, with India set to face Australia in a 3-match ODI series in early December and Yastika Bhatia already sidelined with an injury sustained during her WBBL campaign, India will be hoping it’s not another injury setback.
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