Mignon du Preez leads way for Hobart Hurricanes as rain plays spoilsport

Hobart Hurricane’s South Africa international Mignon du Preez finally found her form with the bat against unbeaten Adelaide Strikers before rain played spoilsport at the Invermay Park in Launceston on Saturday (October 23). Due to the continuous rainfall and wet outfield, that was only action possible on the day in WBBL with the three other fixtures - Brisbane Heat versus Melbourne Stars, Sydney Sixers versus Sydney Thunder, Perth Scorchers versus Melbourne Renegades - were also getting abandoned without a ball being bowled.



Strikers captain Tahlia McGrath won the toss and invited Hurricanes to bat first, Darcie Brown made the most of the new ball early on. The 18-year-old forced a rushed pull shot from Ruth Johnston, and it ended up as an easy catch for Amanda-Jade Wellington. Brown dismissed in-form Rachel Priest for just 13 runs as she hit it straight to McGrath at extra-cover to reduce the Tasmania side to 29 for two by the end of the power play.



Du Preez, who was struggling for the form with single digits scores in first three matches, then found a partner in Nicola Carey as the pair added 43 runs for the fourth wicket. She hit three sixes to keep Hurricanes innings going before Wellington stuck with two wickets in an over. Carey was caught behind trying to execute a sweep shot, while Richa Ghosh was trapped in front by the leg-spinner.



Naomi Stalenberg joined du Preez to take Hurricanes beyond the 100-run mark, but Sarah Coyte deceived the veteran with a slower ball and Jemma Barsby took a stunning catch running from long-on to end the promising partnership.



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At the 16 over mark, the players had to leave with the rain stopping the play and they couldn't get back on the field with the persistent rain and match was eventually called off.



For Strikers, Brown and Wellington took two wickets each, and Coyte chipped in with an economical spell and a vital wicket of du Preez.



With the continuous rain, other three matches of the day also had the same fate as all teams walked away with one point each from the abandoned fixtures.



Brief Scores: 



Hobart Hurricanes 107/5 in 16 overs (Mignon du Preez 38, Naomi Stalenberg 21; Amanda-Jade Wellington 2/16) v Adelaide Strikers Match called off due to rain



Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars, Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder, Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegdes - Matches abandoned without a ball being bowled