The inaugural edition of the T20 Spring Challenge, a new state-run T20 competition organized by Cricket Australia (CA), concluded with a spectacular final on October 20, 2024. Hobart Hurricanes, led by Elyse Villani, triumphed over Brisbane Heat, captained by Georgia Redmayne, securing the title with a five-wicket victory. The tournament showcased some exceptional performances, with Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars making it to the semi-finals.
Winning the toss, Brisbane Heat opted to bat first in the Final but stumbled early. Star opener Laura Harris (10 off 6) fell in the first over, and the innings struggled to gain momentum. Georgia Redmayne (13 off 18) and Charli Knott (17 off 23) attempted to steady the ship, contributing to a 31-run partnership. Sianna Ginger (24 off 21) and Lucinda Bourke (22 off 19) played vital knocks, but their dismissals triggered a collapse as the Hurricanes bowlers dominated the latter stages, restricting Heat to 133/9. Ruth Johnston shone for the Hurricanes, grabbing 4 wickets for 20 runs.
In reply, the Hurricanes started strong, with Lizelle Lee taking charge in the powerplay, smashing 6 boundaries. Despite the loss of Ruth Johnston (6 off 7) and Nicola Carey (5 off 7), Lee’s brilliant 63 off 47 balls anchored the chase. Although her dismissal slowed the run rate, Manix-Geeves (27 off 21) kept the innings ticking. With 18 needed off the last 12 balls, Nicola Hancock’s expensive 19th over, conceding 14 runs, handed the Hurricanes the edge. They clinched victory on the last ball of the match, marking a thrilling finish to the tournament.
The Hurricanes had a bumpy start, losing their opener to the Melbourne Renegades, but quickly found their rhythm. They won three consecutive league-stage matches against the Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers, and Australian Capital Territory before their semi-final against Melbourne Stars was washed out, allowing them to progress based on their superior points table position. Lizelle Lee emerged as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 252 runs from six innings, while Molly Strano led the bowling attack with eight wickets.
Brisbane Heat had a strong tournament run, starting with a dominant win over Sydney Thunder, thanks to Laura Harris’ sensational unbeaten 102 off 46 balls. They won three of their four league matches, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Sydney Sixers. In the semi-final, they crushed Adelaide Strikers by 38 runs, with Sianna Ginger earning Player of the Match honors for her all-round performance (46 off 38 and 2/23). Georgia Redmayne topped the batting charts for Heat with 208 runs, while Nicola Hancock was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets.
Melbourne Stars, who finished third, won three of their four league games, with their only loss coming against the Australian Capital Territory. Despite some strong performances, including Hasrat Gill’s magical spell of 3/12 against Sydney Thunder, their semi-final was washed out, and they missed out on a final spot due to net run rate. Meg Lanning led the team with 131 runs, while Sophie Day took 7 wickets.
Adelaide Strikers, fourth place finishers, showed flashes of brilliance but struggled with consistency. They began with a win against Perth Scorchers but faltered in key matches, including their semi-final loss to Brisbane Heat. Madeline Penna stood out as their top batter with 153 runs, while Eleanor Larosa was the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker with 9 scalps.
The Australian Capital Territory and Sydney Thunder narrowly missed the semi-finals due to their lower net run rates, despite both winning two matches. Melbourne Renegades, Sydney Sixers, and Perth Scorchers all struggled, managing only one win each from their four matches.
Loves all things female cricket