In an exciting clash at Bankstown Oval in Sydney, Adelaide Strikers Women secured a convincing 29-run victory over Hobart Hurricanes Women in the 9th match of the T20 Spring Challenge 2026. A standout all-round effort from Eleanor Larosa and disciplined bowling across the park ensured the Strikers held firm control throughout the match.
Taking the field first, Adelaide Strikers Women opened their innings with Ellie Johnston and Emma de Broughe. The duo added a quickfire 22-run opening partnership off 15 balls before Johnston was dismissed for 9 runs off 10 balls with one four, caught by Hayley Silver-holmes off Ira Aery in the 3rd over at 22 for 1. De Broughe then joined forces with Eleanor Larosa to reconstruct the innings, constructing a vital 59-run partnership for the second wicket off 48 deliveries.
De Broughe looked solid, accumulating 40 runs off 27 balls with 5 boundaries before falling in the 11th over at 81 for 2, caught by Ella Hayward off Mia Barwick. Madeline Penna had a brief stay at the crease, scoring 3 runs off 5 balls before being caught and bowled by Molly Strano in the next over, leaving the Strikers at 86 for 3. Despite the quick wickets, Larosa stabilized the middle overs alongside Bridget Patterson. Together, they shared a 34-run stance off 24 balls.
Larosa brought up a well-crafted half-century, anchoring the innings with 52 runs off 43 balls with 6 fours and 1 six before being caught by Ayaka Kato-Stafford off Hobart skipper Heather Graham at 120 for 4 in the 16th over. Strikers skipper Amanda-Jade Wellington provided late acceleration in a 37-run stand off 24 balls with Patterson.
Wellington scored 13 runs off 14 balls with 2 fours before being bowled by Graham in the final over at 157 for 5. Patterson remained unbeaten on 27 runs off 19 balls with 3 fours and 1 six, while Kate Peterson added a quick 7 not out off 3 balls with 1 four to cap off a strong batting display, pushing the Strikers to 165 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Hobart’s bowling unit put in a determined effort, led by captain Heather Graham who took 2 wickets for 23 runs in 4 overs. Ira Aery finished with 1 for 12 in 2 overs, Molly Strano took 1 for 23 in 3 overs, and Mia Barwick registered 1 for 19 in 2 overs. Hayley Silver-holmes conceded 32 runs in 4 overs, Ayaka Kato-Stafford went for 17 runs in 2 overs, and Ella Hayward gave away 35 runs in 3 overs without taking a wicket.
Chasing a target of 166, Hobart Hurricanes Women started briskly with an opening stand of 34 runs in 24 balls between Kate Pelle and Ella Hayward. The breakthrough came in the 4th over when Pelle scored 20 runs off 14 balls with 4 fours before being caught by Ellie Johnston off Courtney Neale at 34 for 1.
Skipper Heather Graham then teamed up with Hayward for a 42-run partnership off 37 balls. However, the Strikers broke the dangerous alliance in the 11th over when Graham was dismissed for 18 runs off 17 balls with 2 fours, caught by Madeline Penna off Eleanor Larosa with the score at 76 for 2. Soon after, Hayward, who top-scored for Hobart with 38 runs off 34 balls including 4 boundaries, was removed by Ella Wilson in the 12th over at 80 for 3.
The Hurricanes struggled to maintain momentum during the middle phase as Adelaide’s bowlers tightened their grip. Tabatha Saville made 12 runs off 8 balls with 1 six before falling to Larosa at 97 for 4. Mia Barwick managed 9 runs off 14 balls before being clean bowled by Penna at 104 for 5.
Ruth Johnston contributed 4 runs off 8 balls before being castled by Wellington at 112 for 6. Hayley Silver-holmes scored 15 runs off 17 balls before falling to Wilson off Larosa’s bowling in the 20th over at 133 for 7. Molly Strano made a quick 9 runs off 6 balls with 1 four before being run out by Larosa at 135 for 8. Ava Curtis with 3 not out off 3 balls and Ayaka Kato-Stafford with 0 not out off 0 balls remained non-striking batters as Hobart Hurricanes Women were restricted to 136 for 8 in 20 overs, falling short by 29 runs.
Adelaide’s bowling attack executed their plans meticulously, led by Madeline Penna who bowled a spell of 2 for 11 in 4 overs and Eleanor Larosa who took 2 for 32 in 4 overs. Ella Wilson contributed with 1 for 20 in 3 overs, Courtney Neale registered 1 for 18 in 2 overs, and Amanda-Jade Wellington picked 1 for 18 in 2 overs. Isabella Malgioglio bowled 4 tight overs for 25 runs and Maggie Clark conceded 8 runs in her single over.
With a half-century and two crucial wickets alongside a run out, Eleanor Larosa proved to be the star player of the match, while Madeline Penna’s spell effectively halted Hobart’s chase. This victory provides Adelaide Strikers Women with vital momentum in the T20 Spring Challenge standings.
anurag
Loves all things female cricket