The Brisbane Heat have won back to back WBBL titles after a comfortable win over the Adelaide Strikers at Allan Border Field in Brisbane this afternoon.
The Strikers suffered a blow early when Sophie Devine skied to third man and was out for 5. Both Tahlia McGrath and Suzie Bates got starts but neither would go on to find a big score.
It was left to Amanda Wellington and Tegan McPharlin to post a total and Wellington’s 55 helped to them to a reasonably competitive total.
In response, the Heat got off to a flier with Beth Mooney leading from the front.
Sammy-Jo Johnson then took a liking to the grandstand roof with four sixes off one Sophie Devine over.
Although she was out shortly after, the damage was done. Mooney with an unbeaten 56no and Jess Jonassen with 33 guided the Heat close to the target before Laura Harris finished it off for a six-wicket win.
The difference in this one was that the Heat’s big-name players in Beth Mooney and Jess Jonassen stood up whereas Sophie Devine could not repeat her brilliant form in the final.
The Strikers were also well below their best in the field and a number of missed chances were punished.
However, take nothing away from the Heat. They play an aggressive style of cricket and the loss of wickets doesn’t slow them down. They are now the benchmark of the WBBL and will be difficult to topple again next year.
Final score
Adelaide Strikers 7/161
Brisbane Heat 4/162
After a WBBL season which has had it all, we crown a winner this afternoon when the Adelaide Strikers play the Brisbane Heat at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. Play starts at 2:40pm AEDT. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match.
The Adelaide Strikers took their place in the final following a convincing win over the Perth Scorchers yesterday.
Batting first, the Scorchers lost three wickets in the power play, the most important being Meg Lanning caught at point off the bowling of Sophie Devine.
Georgia Redmayne and Jemma Barsby fought hard to post a 7/126 total, perhaps 20 short of a par total.
Despite losing Suzie Bates early in a run out, the result never really looked in doubt. Devine finished undefeated on 65 after 46 balls while Tahlia McGrath made a well compiled 36. Devine has continued her player of the tournament form in the finals.
The Strikers will play the Brisbane Heat in the final, after they beat the Melbourne Renegades in a high scoring second semi final.
4/163 seemed enough for the Renegades, after Josie Dooley scored her maiden half century and Jess Duffin was again amongst the runs with 44.
However, despite some late stumbles, the Heat chased down the target with 12 balls to spare. Maddy Green, Jess Jonassen and Grace Harris all had fast scoring cameos to get the job done.
Prediction
This is probably the WBBL final that everyone had hoped for, a clash between two in-form teams.
A lot will depend on Sophie Devine, and she will need to go big if the Strikers are to win.
For me, the Heat have a depth in their batting order that no other team has. They will go back to back.
Heat to win by 20 runs or 4 wickets
When: 2.40pm AEDT
TV: Fox Cricket, Channel 7
Adelaide Strikers
Suzie Bates (c), Sophie Devine, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Katie Mack, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tegan McPharlin (wk), Annie O’Neil, Sarah Coyte, Megan Schutt, Alex Price
Brisbane Heat
Kirby Short (c), Beth Mooney, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Maddy Green, Mikayla Hinkley, Delissa Kimmince, Laura Harris, Amelia Kerr, Georgia Prestwidge
Carl
Guest
Thanks David. Good work. Very helpful getting this information from everybody who works on The Roar live to give a written description of proceedings. Cheers.
Simoc
Guest
Great move to bring in Johnson at first drop to produce an epic cameo which put the Heat on the front foot for the remainder of the chase. Well done Brisbane Heat. They're a potent outfit.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Hope you enjoyed the coverage this afternoon. Enjoy the remainder of your weekend
David Holden
Roar Guru
The Brisbane Heat players are now getting their medals and its party time.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Presentation is underway now and Beth Mooney has picked up the Player of the Match Award
David Holden
Roar Guru
MATCH SUMMARY The Brisbane Heat have won back to back WBBL's after a comfortable win over the Adelaide Strikers at Allan Border Field in Brisbane this afternoon. The Strikers suffered a blow early when Sophie Devine skied to third man and was out for 5. Both Tahlia McGrath and Suzie Bates got starts but neither would go on to find a big score. It was left to Amanda Wellington and Tegan McPharlin to post a total and Wellington's 55 helped to them to a reasonably competitive total. In response, the Heat got off to a flier with Beth Mooney leading from the front. Sammy-Jo Johnson then took a liking to the grandstand roof with 4 sixes off one Sophie Devine over. Although she was out shortly after, the damage was done. Mooney with an unbeaten 56no and Jess Jonassen with 33 guided the Heat close to the target before Laura Harris finished it off for a 6 wicket win. The difference in this one was that the Heat's big name players in Beth Mooney and Jess Jonassen stood up whereas Sophie Devine could not repeat her brilliant form in the final. The Strikers were also well below their best in the field and a number of missed chances were punished. However, take nothing away from the Heat. They play an aggressive style of cricket and the loss of wickets doesn't slow them down. They are now the benchmark of the WBBL and will be difficult to topple again next year. Brisbane Heat (4-162) – 18.1 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 19. Bates to bowl 18.1 Harris works that to mid wicket and the Brisbane Heat have gone back to back Brisbane Heat (4-162) - 18.1 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 18. Coyte to bowl. Only 6 runs required 17.1 Harris hits hard to long off for 1 17.2 Mooney works in front of square for 2. Missed run out chance from the Strikers 17.3. Bit of confusion but no wicket and no run 17.4 Mooney plays straight for no run 17.5 Mooney works to deep cover for 1 17.6 Harris works down to fine leg Brisbane Heat (4-161) - 18 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 17. Schutt to bowl. Only 14 off 24 balls is required. 16.1 Mooney plays to long on for 1 16.2 Harris lofts over cover for 2 runs 16.3 Straight to long on for a single 16.4 Leg bye from Mooney and they take an easy single 16.5 Good fielding keeps that to a single 16.6 Leg byes again but they take 2 and the Heat are almost home Brisbane Heat (4-156) - 17 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 16 Laura Harris joins us 15.3 Played to cover and no run 15.4 Laura Harris lobs that over mid wicket for FOUR 15.5 Full toss from McGrath and it gets the treatment for FOUR. No ball called as well 15.5 Play and a miss from Harris 15.6 Wide ball and this over is getting ugly after the early wicket 15.6 Harris cuts and it clears short 3rd man for a further FOUR Brisbane Heat (4-148) - 16 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 16 29 runs required from 30 balls. McGrath to bowl her last 15.1 Mooney plays to deep cover for 1 15.2 Grace Harris has tried to pull that but the ball was too full and she has been bowled. WICKET Brisbane Heat (4-134) - 15.2 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 15. A lot of fielding blunders from the Strikers and they can't afford it. Wellington to bowl 14.1 Mooney races for 2 through mid wicket 14.2 Guided to mid wicket and that is Mooney's 50 off 36 balls 14.3 Full toss and Harris hits to deep mid wicket for 1 14.4 Mishit from Mooney but she picks up a single 14.5 Play and a miss from Harris 14.6 Harris plays straight and no run Brisbane Heat (3-133) - 15 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 14. Jonassen departs for 33. Grace Harris is at the crease. 13.2 Mooney takes a single to point 13.3 Harris plays to cover and no run 13.4 Played to cover once more but poor fielding and they run an overthrow 13.5 Mooney beats cover with that drive and it races to the boundary for FOUR 13.6 Worked into cover for 1 and Mooney is 47 Brisbane Heat (3-128) - 14 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 14. Coyte to bowl. 13.1 Jonassen has gone to deep mid wicket and Patterson takes a sharp chance. WICKET Brisbane Heat (3-121) - 13.1 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 13. Schutt to come back in the hope of taking a wicket 12.1 Single taken to mid wicket by Mooney 12.2 Wide ball from Schutt 12.2 Well fielded in the covers and only a single 12.3 Mooney works it to long on 12.4 Leg bye ran 12.5 Worked down to long on for the run 12.6 Struck on the pad and another leg bye Brisbane Heat (2-121) - 13 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 12 That drop unfortunately could mean game over for the Strikers. McGrath to bowl 11.1 Mooney edges fine and scores FOUR 11.2 She helps that down to fine leg for 1 11.3 Jonassen takes that short ball and clubs to the square leg boundary. FOUR 11.4 Played for one to cover 11.5 Worked down to fine leg for 1 more 11.6 Played straight for no run Brisbane Heat (2-114) - 12 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 11. Half way mark for the Heat and they are well on top. Devine to bowl her 3rd 10.1 Single taken to cover 10.2 Mooney works it to deep cover and she goes to 31 10.3 Jonassen skies it and an easy catch has been dropped by Wellington 10.4 Single taken to square leg 10.5 Jonassen punishes that drop by smashing over cover for FOUR 10.6 Jonassen top edges that pull shot and its flown fine for another FOUR Brisbane Heat (2-103) - 11 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 10. Coyte to bowl her second 9.1 Played to deep square by Mooney for 1 9.2 Played out to deep cover for a single 9.3 Mooney strokes down to long off for 1 9.4 Straight to cover and no run 9.5 Play and a miss from Jonassen 9.6. She then goes to long off for 1. Brisbane Heat (2-91) - 10 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 9. Wellington to bowl 8.1 Worked to deep mid wicket for 1 8.2 Played to mid off for a 1 run but a misfield leaks another 8.3 Cut to deep point for 1 8.4 Jonassen lofts over mid off and that's a good FOUR 8.5 Jonassen beats square leg and that's another FOUR. Heat well on top now 8.6 Played straight back down the pitch for no run Brisbane Heat (2-87) - 9 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs
David Holden
Roar Guru
Over 8. Bates to bowl her first 7.1 Play and a miss from Jonassen 7.2 Play and a miss and great keeping 7.3 Jonassen lofts straight and scores 2 7.4 Played to point and they scamper 1 7.5 Mooney plays and misses outside off stump 7.6 Plays to deep point and a quickly run 2 Brisbane Heat (2-75) - 8 overs Adelaide Strikers (7-161) – 20 overs