![Laura Wolvaardt at her attacking best in the WBBL 2023. [Image: Getty]](https://www.womenscricinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/371897.6.webp "Laura Wolvaardt at her attacking best. [Image: Getty]")
Adelaide Strikers, the bonafide table toppers continued their rich vein of form registering yet another crucial win against the Hobart Hurricanes at the Women’s Big Bash League 2023 (WBBL 2023) on Saturday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Scoring a massive 164/3 in their 20 overs quota, it was Laura Wolvaardt who led from the front with a brilliant 73 and was ably supported by Bridget Patterson and Katie Mack who chipped in with handy cameos. But what was the biggest talking point of the match was how the Strikers backed it up with an even better showing with the ball as they skittled the Hurricanes for a meagre 87.
The Hurricanes won the toss and decided to bowl first which meant the Strikers would bat first and have the perfect opportunity to put up a big, imposing total and they stuck true to the memo. The duo of Katie Mack and Laura Wolvaardt, as they have been through the season delivered the perfect and most ideal start in the WBBL 2023 game.
With an attacking instinct and playing each ball to its merit, the duo did not struggle one bit to find any obstacles in doing so. While Wolvaardt played the role of the aggressor, Mack was supporting her from the other end keeping things in check. They sailed through the powerplay and it was only in the 11th over that Shabnim Ismail got the first breakthrough dismissing Mack for 24. At that stage, the Strikers looked comfortable for a big total and with their scoring rate on par as well.
50 up for Laura Wolvaardt at the SCG! #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/K7nijRWE81
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 26, 2023
Skipper Tahlia McGrath then joined the newly appointed South African skipper Wolvaardt and the two continued pulverising the Hurricanes attack that seemed listless to this brutal onslaught. While Wolvaardt creamed those loose deliveries with her trademark cover drives that kept the spectators glued, it was McGrath’s attacking knock that caught the attention.
While her explosive 22 off 18 came to an end as Nicola Caret got her in the 16th over, the platform was set for the batters next in line. Picking up from where the skipper had left off, Bridget Patterson joined the party and got off to a blistering start as she not only hit two boundaries and one six in her knock but counteracted the Hurricanes bowling and paved the way for Wolvaardt to play her game.
Even as Wolvaardt fell for a well-played 73 off 65 in the thrilling WBBL 2023 game, with Patterson’s 26 off 12 and Penna’s final ball boundary; the Strikers posted a competitive 164/3 on the board. Except for Nicola Carey who scalped two wickets and Shabnim Ismail with one, the rest of the bowling had quite an underwhelming outing.
Maddie Penna understood the assignment!
Comes out to face the final ball, finds the rope and the @StrikersBBL post 3-164 #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/Eo2mGM5ynf
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 26, 2023
Besides the psychological pressures of chasing a total of 165, the Hurricanes were off to a flyer courtesy of some attacking batting by Elyse Villani and Lizelle Lee. However, this did not last long as Megan Schutt got rid of Lee for 10 in the 4th over and skipper Villani for 13 was sent packing in the 6th over by Jemma Barsby.
With Nicola Carey and Naomi Stalenberg dismissed by Tahlia McGrath in the same over, the situation was nowhere looking pretty for the Hurricanes. Heather Graham was also undone by skipper Tahlia McGrath in her next spell, the Hurricanes were finding long-lasting partnerships tough to stick on as they stared down the barrel with half their batting back in the pavilion.
Danielle Gibson from the other end was equally resourceful as she got rid of Ruth Johnston. Even as Hayley Silver-Holmes soldiered on, wickets around her kept tumbling. Molly Strano was out for 2 as Amanda-Jade Wellington got the better of her. With the duo of Silver-Holmes and Amy Smith dismissed in the same over as Anesu Mushangwe struck twice, the Hurricanes were done and dusted as well in the WBBL 2023.
Jemma Barsby dismissed Masiy Gibson and the Hurricanes were all out for 87 with Shabnim Ismail the only batter left unbeaten on 7.
Two-in-two for Tahlia McGrath!@StrikersBBL all over the Canes here #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/DYagRFAjtf
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 26, 2023
In the bowling department, it certainly was McGrath who was class apart scaling three crucial wickets and with Mushangwe and Barsby taking two and Schutt, Gibson and Amanda-Jade Wellington with one each; it was a comprehensive team effort that completely dismantled the Hurricanes and a positive note to enter the Finals for the Strikers.
Fist bump for the final 👊
See you Saturday, @StrikersBBL.#WBBLStadiumSeries #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/4H6aDAS6S5
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 26, 2023
WBBL 2023: Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes Brief Scores:
Adelaide Strikers 164/3 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 73, Bridget Patterson 26*; Nicola Carey 2/39, Shabnim Ismail 1/22) beat Hobart Hurricanes 87 all out in 16 overs (Hayley Silver Holmes 14, Elyse Villani 13; McGrath 3/8, Emma Barsby 2/11) by 77 runs.
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