Melbourne Stars topple the Heat in assured victory

The Heat won the toss and chose to bat on what had proven to be a good pitch the day before. The Stars looked to take pace off the ball early on as they opened the bowling with the experienced Erin Osborne and captain Kristen Beams.

Osborne who didn’t find her line and length yesterday found it straight away today. Beth Mooney who has been an import batter for the Heat was unable to get them off to the start the Brisbane side is used to when she dragged on the fourth ball of the day for 2.

Kirby Short was living on borrowed time, as she could have been out the two before she finally perished being bowled by Osborne who turned one back in.

A cluster of wickets fell to leave the Heat on 40 for six, including a superb catch from Katie Mack who seeing it sail over her shoulder before adjusting and taking the catch with a well-judged dive.

Jess Jonassen who has a test 99 to her name showed just how important she can be with the bat with a crucial 46 from as many balls.

Along with Hadiee Birkett put on a partnership of 41 that at least gave the Heat to bowl at even though it would be under a hundred.

Jonassen had just hit a six when she was caught by Anna Lanning at Cover to give Osbourne her fourth wicket.

The three spinners seven of the eight wickets to fall and it was in what was a fantastic display of spin bowling that gave the Heat few balls to hit.

The Stars knew that would need 94 from their twenty overs and were not going to take the chase for granted as Lizelle Lee saw out the first over from Jonassen for a maiden.

The pace of Sammy-Jo Johnson proved to be easier to hit as the bowler struggled to find the right line an the second over went for ten.

Lee was dropped on five when she skied one and Georgia Prestwidge who under it waited an eternity for the ball to come down and she dropped it. It wasn’t to prove too costly as Lee was bowled by Deandra Dottin looking to hit across the line.

The Heat needed a wicket as Mack and Mignon du Preez started to build a partnership and it was to be the spin of Jonassen that would make the breakthrough. Mack misjudged a tossed up delivery and Mooney was not going to miss the stumping.

It was an important inning of 20 from Mack as it gave the Stars a solid start and meant that the Heat was striving for wickets.

The sort of player that the Stars needed was du Preez someone who is busy at the crease and can rotate the strike when the boundaries aren’t coming.

Osborne was looking comfortable with the bat having scored 15 was given out to a debatable lbw decision that looked to be going down leg, and the bowler Johnson only half appealed before the umpire gave the wicket.

The Heat would have disappointed that they gave du Preez three lives who finished on 36 not out.

It was an import inning and with the run-rate at under four an over, took some of the pressure off the other batters.

This result will hurt the Heat, but having been bowled out for a lower total earlier in the tournament they know that they can come back from this. It was a good result for the Stars who feel that they can kick on their season from here.

Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat

Brisbane Heat 93 for 8 ( Jonassen 46, Osborne 4 for 20)

Melbourne Stars 94 for 4 (du Preez 36*, Johnson 2 for 26)