The second match of the eleventh edition of the Women’s Big Bash League delivered a spectacle of power-hitting and nerve, as the Hobart Hurricanes Women edged past the Sydney Thunder Women by six wickets in a high-scoring thriller at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, on Sunday.
It was Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s night — the seasoned English opener produced a masterclass in controlled aggression, smashing a breathtaking 90 off just 52 balls to guide the Hurricanes to victory in their season opener. Her dazzling performance earned her the Player of the Match award.
Asked to bat first, the Sydney Thunder began briskly and built a strong platform with collective contributions through their lineup. Heather Knight anchored the innings with a fluent 39 off 31 balls, while Chamari Athapaththu unleashed her trademark strokeplay for a quick 32 off 22. Skipper Phoebe Litchfield injected late momentum with a brisk 16 off 6, and Laura Harris provided fireworks at the death — a blistering 20 off 7 balls, struck at an astonishing 285.71 strike rate — helping the Thunder reach a formidable 181/8 in 20 overs.
Enjoy every boundary from Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s superb 90 off just 52 balls 🙌#WBBL11 pic.twitter.com/75AnUVQHfa
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 9, 2025
The Hurricanes’ bowlers toiled but found ways to keep the target within reach. Heather Graham (2/33) and Hayley Silver-holmes (2/27) claimed vital breakthroughs at key moments, while Lauren Smith bowled a disciplined spell of 1/6 in 2 overs, stifling the run flow briefly. Molly Strano (1/28) and Linsey Smith (1/46) added a wicket each, ensuring the Thunder didn’t fully explode in the final overs.
In reply, the Hurricanes’ chase began shakily with a couple of early wickets, but once Wyatt-Hodge found her rhythm, the game’s complexion changed dramatically. Playing with authority and flair, she peppered the boundary with nine fours and three sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 173.07 and keeping the scoreboard ticking with effortless precision.
Her match-defining 143-run stand off 81 balls with Nicola Carey turned the chase into a statement of calm and confidence. Carey was the perfect foil — steady yet enterprising — crafting an unbeaten 58 off 43 balls with seven boundaries, guiding Hobart home with three balls to spare.
Despite fiery spells from Shabnim Ismail (2/22), whose raw pace rattled the Hurricanes’ top order, and Samantha Bates (2/39), who provided crucial middle-overs breakthroughs, the Thunder couldn’t contain the composed finishing from Hobart’s middle order.
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