A record-breaking partnership headlines WBBL weekend

Another weekend of the ongoing WBBL came to an end! Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat came out victors over Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers respectively on Sunday (November 3) but what stood out was the onslaught by two Australia stars who seemed too busy in a race that they registered a record-breaking partnership in the tournament.

In an match between Sixers and Stars at the WACA, Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy stood out for their 199-run stand for the opening wicket which surpassed previous highest partnership of 156 not out stitched by Meg Lanning and Mignon du Preez for Melbourne Stars in 2016. The Australian duo hammered Stars bowlers all over the park, leaving them clueless and forcing them to keep changing their plans.

Both Perry and Healy remained unbeaten on 87 and 106 respectively. In reply, Lizelle Lee and du Preez were dismissed when Stars needed them the most. Although, their skipper Elyse Villani kept going but she too fell after her fighting 59 as she could not find support. Sixers restricted them for 154 for six. For Sixers, Sarah Aley returned with two wickets.

Meanwhile at West Park Oval in Burnie, allround Thunder handed a six-wicket defeat to Hurricanes. Thunder bowlers got the early breakthrough and maintained low run rate. With Heather Knight (77 off 49 balls) in the middle, the set plan seemed to slip out of Thunder's hand as she not only ensured stability but also pushed the scoreboard to take Hurricanes to a respectable total. However, Hannah Darlington got the big wicket of the England international and that changed the fortunes of Hurricanes as Thunder restricted them on 148 for six. For Thunder, Nida Dar picked up two wickets.

Rachel Priest gave the perfect start to Thunder, adding 50 runs for the opening wicket. Although Thunder lost two wickets in quick succession, including skipper Rachael Haynes, Priest maintained her calm and carried the set momentum before getting leg-before for well-compiled 34-ball 50. Alex Blackwell and teen sensation Phoebe Litchfield (26*) found their rhythm and inched closer to victory before Blackwell (26) gave a return catch to Belinda Vakarewa. Dar joined the 16-year-old and secured the victory.

In the third match at Mackay, it was all square between Heat and Strikers as in-form Beth Mooney in teal took revenge for Friday's (November 2) defeat. The left-hander played match winning knock of 77 not out after Georgia Prestwidge and Sammy-Jo Johnson shared five wickets between them.

Heat bowlers picked early wickets and ensured Sophie Devine does not find support at the other end. Devine registered her hard-fought fifty and dragged Strikers to a decent total before getting run out on 65. However, it all went in vain as Mooney and Grace Harris (30) set the mood for Heat before Jonassen (25*) joined hands with Mooney and took Heat over the line.

Brief scores:

Hobart Hurricanes 148/6 in 20 overs (Heather Knight 77, Chloe Tryon 21, Nida Dar 2-16) lost to Sydney Thunder 149/4 in 18.1 overs (Rachel Priest 50, Phoebe Litchfield 26*, Maisy Gibson 2-28) by 6 wickets

Sydney Sixers 199/0 in 20 overs (Alyssa Healy 106*, Ellyse Perry 87*) beat Melbourne Stars 154/6 in 20 overs (Elyse Villani 59, Katey Martin 31, Sarah Aley 2-18) by 45 runs

Adelaide Strikers 141/8 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 65, Georgia Prestwidge 3-29, Sammy-Jo Johnson 2-30) lost to Brisbane Heat 142/1 in 17.1 overs (Beth Mooney 77*, Jess Jonassen 25*, Amanda Wellington 1-16) by 9 wickets