The Adelaide Strikers, led by skipper Tahlia McGrath, were up against the Sydney Thunder, led by skipper Phoebe Litchfield, in the 2nd game of the double header on November 28 in Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 11. Earlier in the day, the game between the Brisbane Heat, led by skipper Jess Jonassen, who are still searching for their first win of the season, facing the Sydney Sixers, led by skipper Ashleigh Gardner, was washed out without a toss.
The relentless rain continued throughout the day, going on to heavily affect the game between the Thunder and the Strikers. However, the rain gods eventually showed enough mercy for the game to finally get underway in a reduced 5-over game at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. The Thunder skipper, Phoebe Litchfield, won the toss and opted to field first.
The Adelaide Strikers, on the back of fireworks from the opening batter, Laura Wolvaardt (22 off 13 balls) and skipper Tahlia McGrath (12* off 6 balls), the home side posted a challenging total of 45/2 in their quota of 5 overs. Pacers Shabnim Ismail (1-0-6-1) and Lucy Finn (1-0-12-1) picked up a wicket each with the ball for Sydney Thunder. Skipper Tahlia McGrath and Laura Wolvaardt smashed a couple of boundaries each, while the South African skipper cleared the ropes once.
Chasing a target of 46, the Thunder skipper Phoebe Litchfield (38* off 15 balls) led from the front, promoting herself to open the innings alongside Georgia Voll (5* off 2 balls). The duo took them on the verge of victory, with a whirlwind 43-run opening stand. Thunder, requiring just three runs to register their 3rd win of the tournament, the on-field umpires decided to call off the run chase due to rain, leaving the Thunder unit and skipper Phoebe Litchfield devastated and her mates fuming. The Strikers, on the other side of the coin, escaped with a point from the contest.
Skipper Phoebe Litchfield looked determined to guide her side over the line as she unleashed her fearless instincts, smashing 8 boundaries, scoring at an astonishing strike rate of 253.33 en route to her innings. The game eventually ended in a no result, adding a sour and bitter memory attached to the contest for the visiting side in particular.
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