Sydney Thunder were crowned the inaugural WBBL Champions after beating the Sydney Sixers by 3 wickets on Sunday, with two balls to spare.
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REPORT: THUNDER DOWN SIXERS TO WIN WBBL
The Thunder did it the hard way in the end. They looked endlessly comfortable at 2/99, after great starts by Stafanie Taylor, Rachael Haynes and Alex Blackwell, but Haynes’ run out by Ellyse Perry started the dominoes falling.
Blackwell was the big wicket, clean bowled by Marizanne Kapp at the start of the 19th over, and the Sixers looked a chance to pull off the miracle of all miracles.
But the Thunder lower order snuck through enough runs at the death to take them home, and then Perry unfortunately finished with that wide ball to end it.
The Sixers will rue a couple of fielding slips, especially ones on the boundary that let through valuable runs. They needed everything to go their way defending such a small total, and while they fought hard and got a glimpse of victory late, unfortunately for them it just wasn’t enough.
The Thunder had their own fielding mishaps, and started slowly with the bat, but the form that they’ve shown all season shined through, with the openers Haynes and Taylor getting runs, Blackwell anchoring the innings, and a disciplined bowling performance across the board to restrict the Sixers and really set up the win.
Erin Osborne was named Player of the Match.
Final score
Sydney Sixers 7/115
Sydney Thunder 7/116
It’s a Sydney Derby down in Melbourne today, as crosstown rivals Sydney Thunder and the Sydney Sixers face off in the final of the Women’s Big Bash League at the MCG, with the winners crowned the inaugural champions of the WBBL. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:30pm (AEDT).
It’s a tale of two seasons when you look at the Thunder and Sixers in WBBL01. The girls in green have hugged the top of the table all the way through, while the pink ladies had a horror start with six straight losses before completely turning their fortunes around, winning eight on the trot to finish in third place.
The Thunder were not a fancied side on paper before the tournament commenced, so it was a turn up for the books when they stunned the star-studded Sixers in the first Sydney Smash back on December 6.
That first game witnessed the birth of some of the competition’s stars. Unknown 17-year-old Lauren Cheatle took 4-20, and West Indian import Stafanie Taylor belted 59* to spearhead the chase as the Thunder ran out easy 9-wicket winners.
The second Sydney derby was a different story. The Sixers were on a six-game winning streak heading into their clash at the SCG last Saturday, and that momentum made all the difference.
The Sixers posted a huge total of 172, with big knocks from Healy, Gardner and McGlashan, and while the Thunder chased hard they finished on 9-151, 22 runs short with Marizanne Kapp again the pick of the bowlers.
As well as being local rivals, a lot of the girls on both teams play alongside one another for the NSW Breakers side. 10 of the 11 Breakers who played in the recent WNCL Final will front up for either the Sixers or Thunder this afternoon, including opposing captains Ellyse Perry and Alex Blackwell.
This familiarity means they know each other’s games intimately, so perhaps it will be the less familiar international imports that could prove the difference here.
South African bowler Kapp has been arguably the Sixers’ best player, strangling sides with her disciplined line and deft changes of pace. She is Perry’s best bowling weapon, and if she has another blinder the Thunder will struggle to put runs on the board.
Kiwi batter Sara McGlashan’s incredible knock of 79* off 58 almost single-handedly steered the Sixers to victory over Hobart on Sunday to secure their finals spot. She has a knack for finding the fence, and the Thunder will have to stem the runs or risk her running away with it.
Stafanie Taylor has been pretty quiet since Christmas but did hit 24 in the semi-final, and if she gets going will be very hard to stop. Her and Rachael Haynes have formed one of the most dangerous opening pairs in the WBBL, and they along with Blackwell will be the key wickets for the Sixers.
The Thunder have relied all season on a young but exciting bowling attack, and these girls will be tested more than ever before as they are charged with stopping a formidable Sixers’ batting line-up that is peaking at just the right time.
Both sides have named unchanged squads for the final.
Join The Roar from 1:30pm AEDT for live scores and updates on the game, and post your comments below.
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Wow. What an incredible, heart-stopping finish. Sydney Thunder are crowned the inaugural WBBL Champions after beating the Sydney Sixers by 3 wickets, with two balls to spare. I need to get my breath back after those final overs. Wow. The Thunder did it the hard way in the end. They looked endlessly comfortable at 2/99, after great starts by Taylor, Haynes and Blackwell, but Haynes' run out by Perry started the dominoes falling. Blackwell was the big wicket, clean bowled by Kapp at the start of the 19th over, and the Sixers looked a chance to pull off the miracle of all miracle season turnarounds. But the Thunder lower order snuck through enough runs at the death to take them home, and then Perry unfortunately finished with that wide ball to end it. The Sixers will rue a couple of fielding slips, especially ones on the boundary that let through valuable runs. They needed everything to go their way defending such a small total, and while they fought hard and got a glimpse of victory late, unfortunately for them it just wasn't enough. Thunder had their own fielding mishaps, and started slowly with the bat, but the form that they've shown all season shined through, with the openers Haynes and Taylor getting runs, Blackwell anchoring the innings, and a disciplined bowling performance across the board to restrict the Sixers and really set up the win. Erin Osborne was named Player of the Match. Once again, Sydney Thunder are WBBL Champions! What a game, and what a remarkable debut season for the Thunder, and the WBBL overall. It was an astonishing success on and off the field, and has really changed the whole landscape of women's cricket. I'm glad to have witnessed it, and glad you could follow along with me.
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
THEY'VE GOT IT! Perry bowls a wide down leg, the Thunder scarper through, and that's the ball game! Thunder win by 3 wickets off the third last ball of the game!
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Single to backward point. 2 runs off 3 balls. Teenager Cheatle on strike to Perry.
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Farrell skies it to mid off, Leys takes it! 7/133. 3 needed off 4 balls. Cheatle is in but Koski facing here.
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
A single to backward square off the first ball. 3 off 5 balls.
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
A chance goes BEGGING as the fielders and batters are all in a flutter. Thunder sneak through a vital three runs from the confusion. Final over. Thunder need 4 from it. Ellyse Perry to bowl. Koski facing. Here we go.
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Yet another run out as the Thunder are desperate for runs. 7 off 8 balls now. Osborne ro Perry 0 Thunder 6/109
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Holy Moley - Blackwell out! Kapp gets one through and bowls her! The Skipper goes and the game teeters on a knife's edge. Blackwell b Kapp 30 Thunder 5/107
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Thunder Innings Over 18: .1W142RO Crazy over - two run outs as the Thunder push for more runs! Game on here! Thunder 4/107 (Target – 116) Osborne 0 Blackwell 31 Aley 2/22 (4)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Blackwell ramps it into space, they try to make 3 but Carey is caught short by Healy. What a game! 9 from 12 needed! Carey ro 1 Thunder 4/107
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Perry drops a hard chance, but turns around and whips the throw in to run Haynes out going for the second. Wowzers! Haynes ro Perry 37 Thunder 3/100
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Thunder Innings Over 17: 121214 Smith to complete here at a crucial stage. The Thunder navigate it expertly, and Blackwell gets a hold of a juicy full toss and dispatches it to finish the over. 11 off that one, and they now need 17 off 18 balls. Thunder 2/99 (Target – 116) Haynes 36 Blackwell 24 Smith 0/23 (4)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Thunder Innings Over 16: .21.3nb.1 Perry back on to make something happen. Thunder are running hard for every run. 28 off 24 balls now the equation. Thunder 2/88 (Target – 116) Haynes 32 Blackwell 17 Perry 0/18 (3)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Thunder Innings Over 15: 21..14 Blackwell skies one over the ring but it drops safely. Sthalekar is inviting the batters to hit over the top here, and they do, with a miss by Aley on the boundary rope letting a 4 through to end the over. 5 overs to go, 36 runs to get. Thunder 2/80 (Target – 116) Haynes 28 Blackwell 14 Sthalekar 0/24 (3)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Thunder Innings Over 13: 2b11.11 Thunder keep pushing the ball around off the spinners. Great fielding from McGlashan keeps the final late cut to one. Thunder 2/72 (Target – 116) Haynes 27 Blackwell 7 Smith 0/12 (3)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Thunder Innings Over 13: 111112 Blackwell and Haynes steady themselves, rotating the strike and getting 7 off the over to keep apace with requirements. Thunder 2/66 (Target – 116) Haynes 25 Blackwell 5 Sthalekar 0/16 (2)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Thunder Innings Over 12: 1.11.. Blackwell pushes through for a risky single to get off the mark, but she's moving her feet early. Required RR is now over 7, and the mood of the game has certainly shifted. Thunder 2/59 (Target – 116) Haynes 22 Blackwell 1 Smith 0/13 (2)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
Thunder Innings Over 11: W.1.W.. Aley breaks through removing Taylor, dropping Haynes and then bowling Stalenburg. Skipper Blackwell comes to the crease. A huge over for the Sixers. Thunder 2/56 (Target – 116) Haynes 20 Blackwell 0 Aley 1/10 (3)
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Aley drops Haynes but then bowls Stalenburg for a duck, straight through there. The mood has changed here. Stalenburg b Aley 0 Thunder 2/56
Stacey O'Loughlin
Roar Pro
WICKET! Sixers sorely needed that breakthrough, and they get it as Taylor goes the tonk and skies it to long on. Taylor c Gardner b Aley 27 Thunder 1/54