Match 29: Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars.
Dynamic innings from Devine takes Adelaide Strikers back to the no.1 spot defeating Melbourne Stars by 17 runs at Adelaide on Sunday.
Winning the toss, Stars opted to bowl on a surface that was tailor-made for batting. Strikers openers, in the beginning, started very slow and had a partnership of 54 runs in 9.3 overs before Bates dismissed for a well made 36.
Once she got out, it was all one sideshow from the deadly hitter Devine. Though she began slowly, after the 15th over she changed the gears and scored another half-century of this season. In the end, when it looked like Strikers would end up scoring 130 to 135 then came a Storm in the final over, The SOPHIE storm, as she scored 5 sixes in a row in the last 5 balls of the innings bowled by Penna. This was completely an eye feast for all the cricket lovers.
Sophie Devine remained unbeaten at 85 including 6 fours and 5 sixes. In the end, Strikers finished at 164 for 4 in 20 overs
Chasing the target of 165, Stars lost their skipper early for 1. Then the African duo of Lee and Dupreez had a solid partnership of 113 runs which almost took away the game from Strikers. Both the batters completed their half-centuries. Lee on scoring 52, got out in a crucial junction of the game and it was the opposition Skipper who got a breakthrough. Once she got out, everyone followed her and the collapse started. The set batter, Dupreez too failed in taking the team home. She got out after reaching 70. The others who followed did not do anything and it lead to another defeat of Stars in this season.
With the ball, it was the young leggie Wellington who picked up 3 wickets and had put a brake on Stars innings as they ended up 17 runs short by the end of 20 overs.
Brief Scores: Strikers 164 for 4 in 20 overs(Devine 85* & Penna 3 for 50) defeated Stars 147 for 8 in 20 overs ( Dupreez 70 & Wellington 3 for 31) by 17 runs
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