Allround Sixers and clinical Heat storm to victories

A crumbling collapse and a clinical chase were the two things that stood out in the two Women's Big Bash League matches on Wednesday (November 13) as Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat comfortably cruised to victories against Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars respectively.

Perry starred with an unbeaten 70 off just 56 balls in Launceston. Her knock enabled Sixers to reach a competitive total of 172. Then the bowlers combined together to shoot out Hurricanes for 133 and win by 39 runs. Erin Burns was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets.

Sent in to bat it was complete domination yet again from Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry. The duo put on 72 runs off just 50 balls for the opening wicket. Healy was the aggressor as she scored boundaries and sixes at will. It almost looked like one-way traffic. Against the run of play, Nicola Carey got the breakthrough of Healy. The wicketkeeper-batter wanted to come down the track and whack one over mid-wicket but instead lost her shape and was clean bowled for 39. Perry brought her fifty of 46 balls and collected the next 20 off just 10 balls. She along with Erin Burns made sure Sixers finish strongly at 172 for the loss of two wickets. Perry carried her bat right through the innings to remain unbeaten on 70.

Chasing 173, Hurricanes were jolted early when they lost Nicola Carey (4) and Erin Fazackerley (16) runs. Soon Heather Knight (6) too joined the duo in the pavilion. Corine Hall and Fran Wilson rescued the innings with a 63 runs stand. Sixers though broke the stand and removed both the batters - Hall for 31 and Wilson for 29 runs. Soon the Hurricanes crumbled as they eventually were shot out for 133 in 18 overs.

At Junction Oval in Melbourne, Heat downed Stars by nine wickets. Maddy Green and Beth Mooney scored half-centuries and set up the chase with a 92-run stand. Earlier with the ball in hand, Delissa Kimmince picked up three wickets to restrict Stars to 165.

Opting to field, Heat made good use of the conditions by prising out Lizelle Lee (6) and Elyse Villani (6) cheaply inside the power play. Stars innings was put on track by Mignon du Preez and Annabel Sutherland. The duo shared 102 runs between them. Du Preez put on an absolute show with the bat as she brought her fifty up in just 31 balls. She used her feet well to the spinners.  There were sweeps, reverse sweeps, paddle sweeps, and lofted shots in plenty. Sutherland was happy to play second fiddle and give the strike to her senior partner.

Heat finally broke the partnership when they had Sutherland for 38. At the other end, du Preez was racing towards her first WBBL hundred. Alas that was not to be as she was out LBW for 88 while trying to play paddle sweep. Stars eventually finished at 165 for the loss of four wickets.

Beth Mooney and Maddy Green got Heat to a good start in their pursuit of 166, as they raced to 50 inside the power play. Green was the one who took the Stars bowling attack apart as she found the fence regularly. Mooney was happy to play second fiddle. Green reached her half-century off 29 balls in the 10th over and brought the equation down to 81 needed off 60 balls.

Stars finally had something to cheer when they saw the back of Green for 56. The 92-run partnership for the opening wicket was broken. After the fall of Green's wicket, Mooney took over and brought her half-century off 48 balls. In the company of Jess Jonassen she ensured there were no further hiccups in the chase as Heat won with four balls to spare.

Brief Scores:

Sydney Sixers 172/2 in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 70*, Alyssa Healy 39; Heather Knight 1-30, Nicola Carey 1-52) beat Hobart Hurricanes 133/10 in 18 overs (Corinne Hall 31, Fran Wilson 29; Erin Burns 3-5, Marizanne Kapp 2-18) by 39 runs.

Melbourne Stars 165/4 in 20 overs (Mignon du Preez 88, Annabel Sutherland 38; Delissa Kimmince 3-27, Sammy-Jo Johnson 1-23) lost to Brisbane Heat (Beth Mooney 70*, Maddy Green 56; Madeline Penna 1-34) by nine wickets.