![A dominant show by Brisbane Heat in the WBBL 2023. [Image: Getty]](https://www.womenscricinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/371979.webp "A dominant show by Brisbane Heat. [Image: Getty]")
Brisbane Heat continued to make heads sway in this edition of the Women’s Big Bash League 2023 (WBBL 2023) as they registered a massive 44 runs versus the Sydney Thunder on Wednesday at the WACA Ground.
Scoring a mammoth 169 batting first, the batting efforts of Amelia Kerr and Grace Harris, were incredible and restricted the Sydney Thunder to 125/9. It was indeed the bowling for Brisbane Heat that was perfectly complementing the batting that paved the way for this famous win setting up the contest versus the Perth Scorchers tomorrow.
Sydney Thunder won the toss and decided to bowl, putting the Heat to bat first. Off to a fine start, the duo of Georgia Redmayne and Grace Harris made every single ball count and were at their impressive best as they have been through the season.
It appears that Grace Harris is ON tonight!
Watch out #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/tCB0a65oUN
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 28, 2023
Sailing through without losing any wickets through the powerplay, the first hiccup came when the settled and attacking Grace Harris was undone by Lauren Smith for 45 off 22. Next, it was Redmayne who was dismissed for 18 as Hannah Darlington got this crucial breakthrough for the Thunder.
Lauren Smith gets Mignon du Preez and doesn't she love it!#WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/fwOCg127iS
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 28, 2023
Amelia Kerr and Mignon du Preez, the other dependable pillars of the middle order then kept the momentum going but with du Preez falling for 10 as Lauren Smith got her out; Laura Harris joined Amelia Kerr at the crease during the all-important WBBL 2023.
Even as Amelia Kerr marshalled on, wickets kept falling at regular intervals as Laura Harris was out for a quick 12 off 5 as Sammy-Jo Johnson dismissed her and she came back to get rid of Kerr.
First ball, pummelled for six! That's the Laura Harris way 😎@WeberBBQAusNZ | #WBBL09 | #SizzlingSixes pic.twitter.com/6rBqj5fKBr
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 28, 2023
Charli Knott’s 11, Jess Jonassen’s 9 and the final acceleration of 8 by Georgia Voll meant the Heat had a more than competitive 169/8 on the board. For the Thunder, it was Hannah Darlington who was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets and she had the able support of Sammy-Jo Jonhson and Lauren Smith who scalped two but were on the economically expensive end of things in their respective spells.
Ohhhhh yeah that's our Player of the Tournament!
Chamari Athapaththu is here to chase 😤 #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/sc4sXortiR
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 28, 2023
With a daunting total of 170 to chase down, Tahlia Wilson and the ever-dependable Chamari Athapaththu kickstarted the proceedings on an auspicious note. Just as they were about to get down to serious business Laura Harris pulled off the most remarkable run-outs and Wilson was out.
Athapaththu looked firm on the other end and kept the scoreboard ticking but her dismissal for 40 in the 10th over and losing Phoebe Litchfield for 3 was far from ideal for the Thunder.
A huge moment in this Eliminator! #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/JzV6RnbxAB
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 28, 2023
Heather Knight was the anchor in the innings and with Marizanne Kapp not able to materialise her start, it was starting to look tense for the Thunder. Knight in her knock of 25, hit three delightful boundaries striking at 147 and after her dismissal in the 16th over, a couple of consecutive dismissals in Olivia Porter and Sammy-Jo Johnson meant the pressure was doubling in the game of WBBL 2023.
Anika Learoyd took over the attacking game and her knock of 21 coming from 18 was the standing point but it certainly was not enough as the Thunder slipped to a 125/9, a 44-run defeat and an exit from the WBBL 2023 ensued.
It was Courtney Sippel and Nicola Hancock who were the pick of the bowlers with three and two wickets respectively and with Jess Jonassen and Amelia Kerr chipping in, it was a superior bowling performance to back the batting show early on.
Two of the world’s best 🫶#WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/Gr09PUicnt
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 28, 2023
WBBL 2023: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder Brief Scores
Brisbane Heat 169/8 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 48, Grace Harris 45; Hannah Darlington 3/42, Lauren Smith 2/30, Sammy-Jo Johnson 2/31) beat Sydney Thunder 125/9 (Chamari Athapaththu 41, Heather Knight 25; Courtney Sippel 3/9, Nicola Hancock 2/16) by 44 runs.
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