Women’s Big Bash League has been one of the most awaited tournaments of the year. While the pandemic seems to have taken the toll on female cricketing action, the action has finally started. Perth Scorchers took on Brisbane Heat at Sydney.
Perth had the job of posting a score for the Brisbane side and the team got off to a steady start from the openers. Sophie Devine, while leading the Scorchers, opened the inning and got 26 off 27 balls. Her partner Beth Mooney got 37 off 33 deliveries. Amy Jones came it at third and played a slow yet steady cameo for her side. She got 28 balls for her 25. She was the first wicket of Hancock and Bolton became the next grab. Bolton got 25 off 23 balls and was caught plumb in front of the stumps. Kimmince was good enough to control the lower-middle order of Perth Scorchers and the batting side could only manage 132 after losing 7 wickets. It is interesting to note that the Brisbane Heat used a whopping seven balling options. Nicola Hancock and Delissa Kimmince were the picks of the bowlers with 2 wickets each. Amelia Kerr got one wicket for her side as well.
Result:
1st Match: Brisbane Heat won by 7 Wickets vs Perth Scorchers#WBBL | #WBBL06 pic.twitter.com/a2Kc0gZcWl
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 25, 2020
Brisbane got to an undesired start while chasing. Maddy Green was dismissed on 6 while facing 9 balls. Georgia Redmayne was, however, in no mood to let the team suffer. She made 37 off her 35 balls including 2 sixes. Jess Jonassen got a healthy cameo as well. She got 4 boundaries in her inning. Grace Harris was, however, the star of the show as she got her side down the line. Several media reports suggested that she studied MS Dhoni and the result was for everybody to see. She struck three maximums in her outing. Brisbane lost a total of three wickets and chased the total three overs before the allotted 20 overs. It is interesting to note that Perth, like Brisbane, gave balls to six bowlers.
Grace Harris, Brisbane Heat all-rounder, has named MS Dhoni as her inspiration after she made a match-winning half-century in the run-chase of the opening game of the #WBBL2020 #MSDhoni #CSK pic.twitter.com/yeZOYPdHCp
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 25, 2020
Grace Harris with her batting masterclass was given the reward as a player of the match. While the Sydney ground was suitable to play longer inning, the chasing side deserves credit for their efforts.
SCORECARD SUMMARY
PERTH SCORCHERS WOMEN – 132/7(20 overs)
Beth Mooney: 37 (33)
Sophie Devine: 26 (27)
Delissa Kimmince: 2/26(4)
Nicola Hancock: 2/25(3)
BRISBANE HEAT WOMEN- 134/3(17 overs)
Grace Harris: 53 (37)
Georgia Redmayne*: 37 (35)
Heather Graham: 1/14(3)
Piepa Cleary: 1/22(3)
POTM: Grace Harris
A student who enjoys studying cricket more than anything else, keen to learn the insights of the women’s game.
