Heat, Strikers and Hurricanes register victories in the first WBBL05 weekend

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Heat, Strikers and Hurricanes register victories in the first WBBL05 weekend

Sophie Devine in action. © Getty Images

The first festival weekend of the fifth season of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) witnessed three matches and all the three matches lived up to the billing as Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat registered victories against Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers respectively on Saturday (October 19).

While Sophie Devine was the clear star with the bat as she bludgeoned her way to remain unbeaten on 72, Stafanie Taylor, Maisy Gibson, Belinda Vakarewa and Amelia Kerr were the stars for their respective teams, each claiming three-wicket hauls.

In the first clash at Junction Oval in Melbourne, Chloe Tryon's undefeated 18-ball 46 pushed the Hurricanes to a total in excess of 160. She was in some mood as she blitzed her way, hitting three sixes and four fours. Alongside Fran Wilson - who saw off off-spinner Erin Osborne's hat-trick ball - Tryon put on an unbroken stand of 63 runs in just 27 balls. This was after Erin Fazackerley, the opener, scored 46 in 33 balls to give them a good start.

Chasing 165 for a win, Stars lost four wickets inside the power play. Lizelle Lee, the opener from South Africa, ticked along by collecting odd boundaries here and there. But her stint in the middle was cut short on 28. Osborne and Tess Flintoff then added 47 together, before the former fell for 40. The latter finished unbeaten on 34. That was the final blow for them as Stars fell short by 20 runs.

At the Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide, Devine made a mockery of the 118-run chase, remaining unbeaten in her knock that took 45 balls and was studded with four sixes and six fours. That helped Strikers open their account in this fifth season of the WBBL.

However, their bowlers efforts made life difficult for Renegades, who were kept to seven for 117, thanks to some fine bowling from Taylor and Megan Schutt, who sent back the top four batters inside the first six overs. Captain Jessica Duffin (44) and Josephine Dooley (20 not out) then tried to resurrect the innings with a 40-run association but it was a bit too much to do.

Although Renegades sent back Suzie Bates and Tahlia McGrath in quick succession, a win for them was a dream, thanks to Devine's innings.

In the third match on super Saturday, Heat downed Sixers by thumping margin of 92 runs. Beth Mooney and Kirby Short added 51 for the opening wicket in quick time. But a collapse then saw the side being reduced to six for 115 by the 16th overs. It then took a blazing cameo from Laura Harris, who finished unbeaten on 36 off just 17 balls, for Heat to post 165. The last four overs saw 50 runs being scored.

There was no challenge in reply, as Sixers had a bad batting collapse that saw them being dismissed for 73. Kerr starred with three for eight with Sammy-Jo Johnson, Jess Jonassen and Grace Harris picking two each. Ellyse Perry's fall on 27, with the team's score on 72, signalled a procession that saw the side being bowled out with the addition of just one more run.

Brief Scores: 

Hobart Hurricanes 164/5 in 20 overs (Chloe Tryon 46*, Erin Fazackerley 46; Erin Osborne 2-44) beat Melbourne Stars 144/9 in 20 overs (Erin Osborne 40; Maisy Gibson 3-26, Belinda Vakarewa 3-27) by 20 runs. PoM: Belinda Vakarewa

Melbourne Renegades 117/7 in 20 overs (Jess Duffin 44; Stafanie Taylor 3-26) lost to Adelaide Strikers 120/4 in 15.2 overs (Sophie Devine 72*, Maitlan Brown 2-15, Lea Tahuhu 2-20) by six wickets. PoM: Sophie Devine

Brisbane Heat 165/6 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 50Laura Harris 36*Hayley Silver-Holmes 2-35) beat Sydney Sixers 73 in 14.4 overs (Ellyse Perry 27; Amelia Kerr 3-8) by 92 runs. PoM: Laura Harris.
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