The stage was set at the iconic North Sydney Oval for the curtain raiser of the 2025-26 T20 Spring Challenge, with Sydney Sixers Women facing off against Hobart Hurricanes Women. Winning the toss, the Sixers decided to field first, hoping to take advantage of the early conditions and apply some pressure to the Hurricanes’ batting lineup.
The Hurricanes had a shaky start, losing opener Rachel Trenaman for just 6 runs. She was bowled out by young Sixers pacer Caoimhe Bray in the second over, setting the tone for the innings. Lizelle Lee (1) didn’t last long either, caught at mid-on off Maitlan Brown’s bowling after just six balls, leaving the Hurricanes in a tough spot early on.
Despite these early setbacks, the Hurricanes fought back with a smart partnership. Nicola Carey played a crucial role, anchoring the innings with a solid 60 runs off 50 balls, punctuated with ten boundaries. She was well supported by captain Elyse Villani, who added a quick 26 off 14 balls, along with Ruth Johnston, who chipped in 20 off 17 deliveries. At one point, the Hurricanes looked to be settling in well at 3/66, giving the impression that they could build a strong total.
However, the momentum shifted in favour of the Sixers with a remarkable play; Caoimhe Bray executed a stunning run-out of Carey, sprinting in, collecting the throw, and hitting the stumps directly. This pivotal moment broke the backbone of the partnership and brought the Sixers back into contention.
The Sixers’ bowling attack did their bit too: Brown finished with figures of 1 for 23 off 4 overs, while Bray chipped in with 1 for 26, while Courtney Sippel and Frankie Nicklin bagged two each, helping to create pressure that led to the Hurricanes posting a total of 143 for 7 in their 20 overs.
Chasing a target of 144, the Sixers started promisingly. Opening batter Kate Pelle played a composed innings with 38 runs off 38 balls, striking six fours and laying a solid foundation. However, the Sixers hit a rough patch, losing wickets at 25, then 64, and again at 87. Suddenly, they found themselves 4 down and needing to catch up, raising hopes for the Hurricanes.
Just when it seemed like pressure was building, Maitlan Brown (who remained not out on 26 off 16 balls) and Emma Manix-Geeves (29 not out off 19) stepped up. They built an important partnership, combining power with precision to steer the Sixers to victory with six wickets in hand and six balls to spare.
Their unbroken stand illustrated calmness under pressure. The Hurricanes’ bowlers fought hard, with Molly Strano picking up 2 for 33 and Lauren Smith maintaining an economical spell at 1 for 22, while Nicola Carey, despite being wicketless, also bowled well. However, their efforts weren’t enough to clinch the game.
The Sixers’ victory marked a strong start to their campaign in the T20 Spring Challenge, showcasing their depth and composure, even without some of their star players. While Carey’s innings offered a glimmer of hope for the Hurricanes, the failure to capitalise on their early start proved costly. The crucial run-out and the shaky middle overs were likely turning points in the match.
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