In a nail-biting finish to the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 11 regular season at North Sydney Oval, Sydney Sixers Women posted 173/4 before edging out Adelaide Strikers Women by just one run, as the visitors finished on 172/7 chasing 174.
Ellyse Perry’s explosive 111 off 71 balls, packed with 16 fours and three sixes, powered the Sixers, while opener Sophia Dunkley added a solid 54 off 40. Bridget Patterson’s unbeaten 65 off 35 for the Strikers nearly turned the tide, but a dramatic last-ball run-out of Sophie Ecclestone sealed a thrilling win that booked the Sixers’ finals spot.
Perry’s masterclass set the tone right from the start, as she and Dunkley forged a commanding opening stand that pushed the Sixers past 100 by the 12th over. Perry reached her fifty in just 35 balls before unleashing a barrage, including back-to-back sixes that had the crowd roaring, helping her side recover from a middle-order wobble where they lost three quick wickets for minimal runs. Eleanor Larosa struck back for the Strikers with career-best figures of 4/20, but it wasn’t enough to pull the total below 170 on a pitch offering some grip.
The Strikers’ chase began steadily but hit top gear after a slow powerplay, sitting at 60/2 after 10 overs before Patterson exploded with a 30-ball fifty featuring six fours and four sixes. Amanda-Jade Wellington chipped in with a brisk 31 off 20, and Madeline Penna matched her with 31, forming crucial stands that brought the equation down to 18 needed off the final over bowled by Ashleigh Gardner. Patterson’s late assault—two fours and a six off the first three balls—left the Sixers’ nerves frayed, but they held firm.
Gardner’s final over became the stuff of legends, conceding 16 runs but claiming two wickets to defend those two crucial runs. She first bowled Wellington through the gate for 31 after a single put her on strike, then watched Ecclestone get run out attempting a desperate second run on the last ball, needing three to win. Gardner ended with impressive figures of 2/30 from her four overs, while Lauren Cheatle supported with 2/39, ensuring the Strikers’ surge fell agonizingly short.
This clash wasn’t just about numbers—it felt like a finals dress rehearsal, with Perry’s 111 marking her highest WBBL score and propelling the Sixers back into the playoffs after three years. Patterson’s grit kept fans on edge till the end, but the Sixers’ composure under pressure proved decisive, highlighting why these rivalry games define the league’s excitement.
Loves all things female cricket