![Ellyse Perry, the bowler looked dominant. [Image: Getty]](https://www.womenscricinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Perry.webp "Ellyse Perry, the bowler looked dominant. [Image: Getty]")
Sydney Sixers reaffirmed the belief that they are a team to reckon with as they notched an imperative six-wicket win versus Brisbane Heat at the Women’s Big Bash League 2023 (WBBL 2023) at the Allan Border Field, Sydney.
Riding on a massive first innings total thanks to the knocks of Amelia Kerr and Mignon du Preez, it was always going to be high run chase but with Sydney Sixers chasing it down with one ball to spare, it was a comprehensive team effort from their end.
Sydney Sixers won the toss and decided to put the Brisbane Heat to bat first in the all-important match of the WBBL 2023. Off to a rough start, Heat lost the duo of Grace Harris cheaply in the very first over as the breakout star Lauren Cheatle struck.
Ping @WHITE_FERNS 😅
It's Jess Kerr bowling to Amelia Kerr in Brisbane! #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/R7agDMPWIy
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 21, 2023
Next in line was Bess Heath who succumbed to a sixteen-ball seven as Jess Kerr overpowered her and with Georgia Redmayne falling for 6 in the fifth over as Ellyse Perry dismissed her, Heat was 34/3 in the fifth over.
It was the experienced duo of Amelia Kerr and Mignon du Preez who stitched a valuable partnership and kept the runs flow coming. With du Preez scoring at a strike rate of 155, she looked at her attacking best while Amelia Kerr with her quick running and boundaries ensured that a big total was on the horizon at all given times. Ellyse Perry was back in the attack and struck immediately to dismiss the settled du Preez for 42 off 27 but with Kerr at the other end striking at her fluent best, skipper Jess Jonassen joined her.
Amelia Kerr brings up fifty in Brisbane and she's doing the damage for the @HeatBBL! #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/AyVSe6rmd4
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 21, 2023
Jonassen chipped in with a valuable 19 off 13, a cameo that saw her score at 146 and although her dismissal was tricky, Kerr was joined by Charli Knott. The surprise package of the match, Knott scored a valiant 29 off 10 which meant that the Heat were staring a total of excess in 150. Amelia Kerr was run out for a well-played 64 and with Georgia Voll out for a golden duck, Brisbane Heat finished with a competitive 176/7 off their 20 overs quota.
Some elite late hitting from Charli Knott who finished on 29no off just 10 balls! ⭐@WeberBBQAusNZ | #SizzlingSixes | #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/kDqC9fnKXs
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 21, 2023
Sydney Sixers were off to a flyer as the opening duo of Ellyse Perry and Suzie Bates punished the bowlers left, right and centre and as Perry looked to accelerate more; Heat’s Voll got her for 20. It was then Suzie Bates who took more of an anchor role and supported Ashleigh Gardner who kept things in check with some crucial boundaries and quick running that kept the Sixers well in command of the situation. Even as Bates was dismissed by the opposition captain Jonassen for 26, Gardner marched on and had Erin Burns join her.
Burns who is known for her clutch knocks chipped in with a splendid 35 off 20 and struck at 175 rill she was undone by Jonassen again and the very next over saw Gardner fall for a well-played 36. At the 14th over juncture, the Sixers were still in reach of the target at 126/4 and the platform was set. Making the most of it was Mathilda Carmichael and Maitlan Brown and their crucial knocks ensured that the Sixers would not have it hard.
Maitlan Brown 🤝 winning runs against the Heat.
The @SixersBBL are pumped with that one! #WBBL09 pic.twitter.com/JGidcm03zg
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 21, 2023
Requiring precisely 38 off the last four overs, the duo unleashed their beast attacking mode striking 22 runs off the power surge and with almost seven needed off the last over, without complicating the situation, they ran quick ones and twos and saw through the Sixers with this crucial win and one ball. Their 51-run partnership certainly was the game-changer and ensured that the Sixers sealed this win with just two points separating them from the Brisbane Heat.
WBBL 2023: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers Brief Scores
Brisbane Heat- 176 for 7 in 19.5 overs (Amelia Kerr 64, Mignon du Preez 42; Ellyse Perry 3-40) lost to Sydney Sixers- 177 for 4 in 20 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 36, Erin Burns 35; Georgia Voll 2-29) by six wickets.
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