Beth Mooney with bat and Amelia Kerr with ball Shines as Brisbane Heat continue to show their domination over Sydney Sixers by winning the match with a huge margin of 92 runs at Sydney on Saturday.
Winning the toss, Heat Skipper opted to bat on a surface that assisted both the departments of the game. Opening the innings Mooney and Short had a good partnership of 51 runs just 38 balls and a major contribution was from Mooney. She continued her amazing form from the series against Srilanka and was timing the ball brilliantly. After a decent partnership, Kirby Short was the first batter to departure, it was a good direct hit from Lauren Smith which made Heat Skipper walk back to the pavilion. Following her, the hard-hitting Grace Harris too became a Victim of runout as she was out for 3. On both occasions it was Mooney on the other end. Meanwhile, Mooney got up to her 50 in 45 balls including 6 boundaries. Her partner Jess Jonassen who came in after the departure of Harris was dismissed by 16 year Holmes for just 6 runs. With her wicket entered Kiwis allrounder Mady Green who looked in good touch and played a quick cameo of 21 runs in 14 balls before she was dismissed by Holmes, this was the second wicket for Holmes in the match.
The wickets kept going and even Mooney was out for 50. It looked like Heat gonna end up with a below-par score but there was a twist in the tale as the allrounder Laura Harris played a dynamic inning of 36 runs in 17 balls including 4 fours and 2 sixes. This came in as a shocking for sixers in the end. Finally, Brisbane Heat finished with 165 for 6 on the board in 20 overs.
Chasing the target, the duo of Healy and Perry were off to a quick start. They scored a quick 24 in 3 overs. After the first 3 overs, it started the downfall of Sixers batting with Healy got out hitting straight to the mid-off fielder who took a juggling catch. Then entered Gardener who started well with a four and six in first 4 balls. Trying to hit a half volley from Johnson, she hit straight into the hands of the cover fielder. Then started the fall of the batters from 36 for 2 to 73 for 10. Though Elyse Perry scored 27 she failed to convert that into a big one.
All credits to the Heat bowlers especially Johnson who picked two key wickets of Healy and Gardener in the beginning and she was well supported by Jonassen and co. In the end, young leg spinner from NZ Amelia Kerr picked up 3 wickets in 4 balls and Sydney Sixers were all out for just 73 runs in 14.4 overs, which is a shocking defeat considering the team and their records.
On the whole, Sixers failed to take revenge from last year’s final and also it looks like they are missing the experience of Dane Vane Niekerk in middle, who will be returning to the squad soon. Coming to Heat, they have continued their winning streak from the last season and will be loving to continue it. Winning against a team like Sixers will always boost the morale and confidence of the team
Brief Scores: Heat 165 for 6 ( Mooney 50, Holmes 2 for 35 ) defeated Sixers 73 for 10 (Perry 27, Kerr 3 for 8 ) by 92 runs
