Super Over in Hobart, Lanning masterclass in Perth - Sunday WBBL05 crowd gets its fill

The big screen at the Lilac Hill in Perth flashed “Today’s attendance - 2434 people, 25 dogs” and the on-air commentator said that the number of dogs had “gone up from 20 last night.” A while before that, those 2434 (not sure about the 25!) rose to their feet to applaud yet another masterful innings of Meg Lanning, who made 81 off just 50 balls, to take Perth Scorchers on the doorstep of victory.

That innings from the captain proved enough, as Scorchers won by eight wickets to inch closer to nailing the third semi-final spot while Sydney Sixers just slipped down the radar, losing their last four matches on the trot in the fifth edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) on Sunday (November 24).

Batting first, Sixers posted 164 for six on the back of an 82-run alliance between Erin Burns and Ashleigh Gardner. The latter scored her sixth WBBL half-century and finished on 54, becoming the first of Samantha Betts' two victims. Burns, meanwhile, got to her third WBBL fifty, finishing unbeaten on 60 off 45 balls.

 

A Meg Lanning special! 🤩#WBBL05 @ScorchersBBL pic.twitter.com/0OMsqJptiy

— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 24, 2019

 

Cameos from Hollie Armitage (24) and Dane van Niekerk (21) meant that the side in pink could gather 49 runs in their last four overs. For Scorchers, Heather Graham picked up a wicket apart from Betts' (2-20).

Chasing 165, the hosts got off to the best possible start as Amy Jones and Lanning added 104 for the opening wicket. While the former missed out on her fifty, the captain ensured she crossed the fifty-run mark in the competition for the 19^th time. After Jones fell to Gardner, her English team-mate Nat Sciver took up the mantle of scoring.

With 18 needed for a win, Lanning attempted a slog sweep against Gardner, only to find Armitage at deep square leg take a fine running catch. However, Sciver stayed unconquered on 39 to see Scorchers home.

Amanda Wellington celebrates a wicket with her Strikers teammates. © Getty Images

Earlier in the day, WBBL05 witnessed the first Super Over as the clash between Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder ended in a stalemate at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Amanda-Jade Wellington, the leg-spinner was the star of the show in the main contest as well as the one-over eliminator.

Her efforts combined with Sophie Devine’s brilliance with the bat to give the Strikers another win and place themselves firmly at number two on the table, a day after they sealed their spot in the semi-final.

Sent in to bat, Devine continued her fine run this season, notching up her seventh half century in WBBL05. Cutting, pulling and driving with aplomb, she was in sight of a ton, when she was stumped by Rachel Priest off Hannah Darlington.

Devine added 69 runs for the second with Tahlia McGrath (32). The middle-order then fell steadily but Devine held the innings together, hitting 10 fours and four sixes in her 88-run knock that took 56 balls. Darlington picked up three for 29 for Thunder.

Priest and Stalenberg began the chase well, adding 59 in quick time before the Kiwi fell for a 20-ball 48. The middle order of Thunder, too, had nothing to write about till Rachel Trenaman walked in.

 

Super Overs always get the heart racing 💙 #BlueEnergy #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/sQbQT8hpVu

— AdelaideStrikersWBBL (@StrikersWBBL) November 24, 2019

 

Wellington had a big role to play in the quiet middle phase as she picked up three wickets, including that of Priest, giving just 17 runs in the process.

With 23 needed off two overs, Trenaman first took eight off the penultimate over bowled by Megan Schutt and then proceeded to take 12 more off the final over delivered by Sarah Coyte. She finished unbeaten on 20 off just 9 balls.

However, with a single needed off the final ball, Nida Dar was trapped plumb in front to tie the game.

Wellington was entrusted with the responsibility of bowling in the Super Over as well for the Strikers. She did what was asked of her, giving away just six runs. Thunder couldn’t then defend the score as a first-ball four by Devine pretty much sealed the deal.

Brief Scores:

Adelaide Strikers 161/6 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 88, Tahlia McGrath 32; Hannah Darlington 3-29) tied with Sydney Thunder 161/6 in 20 overs (Rachel Priest 48, Naomi Stalenberg 37; Amanda-Jade Wellington 3-17). Super Over: Thunder 6/1 (1); Strikers 7/0 (0.3). Adelaide Strikers won the Super Over. PoM: Amanda Wellington

Sydney Sixers 164/6 in 20 overs (Erin Burns 60*, Ashleigh Gardner 54; Samantha Betts 2-20) lost to Perth Scorchers 165/2 in 19.2 overs (Meg Lanning 81; Ashleigh Gardner 2-33) by eight wickets. PoM: Meg Lanning.