The Brisbane Heat have taken home the WBBL04 final, defeating the Sydney Sixers at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday.
Final score
Sydney Sixers 7/131
Brisbane Heat 7/132
In the WBBL04 final, the Sydney Sixers will go up against the Brisbane Heat, on Saturday morning at Drummoyne Oval. Join The Roar for live coverage of the final from 10:10am AEDT.
After 56 matches and two thrilling semi-finals, we arrive at the final game of the fourth WBBL season.
The Sixers fought through to the final with a Super Over win against the Melbourne Renegades in the second semi-final.
Batting first, Sydney put on 131 runs at Drummoyne Oval, including 54 not-out from Ellyse Perry and an even better unbeaten half-century by Dane Van Niekerk.
Sophie Molineux put on 55 for the Renegades, partnering with Jess Duffin (41 runs) and Claire Koski (19 not out) to equal the Sixers with 131 runs off 20 overs.
All-square after some Erin Burns and Alyssa Healy fielding brilliance, in the Super Over the Sixers fired, while the Renegades couldn’t. Perry won the game – and a spot in the final – with a six.
Finishing third through the season, the Brisbane Heat faced the Sydney Thunder in the first semi-final last Saturday.
It was a thrilling encounter that came down to the last ball.
Brisbane put together 140, with starts by Sammy-Jo Johnson (33 runs) and Laura Harris (32 not out), before the Thunder’s chase got underway.
Jemma Barsby bagged three wickets, before Haidee Birkett made arguably the play of the day, catching Nicola Carey on the boundary to take the win for the Heat.
Carey looked calm as her final shot headed to the boundary, but the speed and hands of Birkett ended the Sydney Thunder’s WBBL04 campaign in stunning fashion.
The footage of Jess Jonassen squatting in disappointment and then her excitement as she Birkett takes the brilliant catch, is absolutely priceless.
Saturday’s final features some of Australia’s best T20 players and include brilliant innings with both bat and ball.
Local Queenslander, Delissa Kimmince, has been the best with the ball for the Heat this season, taking 20 wickets, and best figures of 4/18.
Medium-fast bowler Sammy-Jo Johnson has been a revelation, with 19 wickets in a breakout season.
Beth Mooney leads the way with the bat for the Heat, she’s made 421 runs this season, at an average of 35.08.
For the Sixers, Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy continue to excel and lead their team with high expectations and exceptional performances.
Perry has made an incredible 744 runs this season, at an average of 93, while her partner in crime Alyssa Healy has been a little quieter with 427 runs in total.
The pick of the bowlers for Sydney has been international star Dane Van Niekerk with 17 wickets this season.
Team camaraderie and playing for each other have been themes of both the Sixers and the Heat’s campaigns.
The aggressive game styles should encourage an exciting, tight contest to decide the WBBL04 champions.
Who will shine today? Time will tell. With international experience in both teams, it might very well come down to the second tier of players and how well they can perform in this WBBL04 final.
Prediction
Though it would be nice to see Brisbane Heat hold up the trophy for a change, it’s hard to go past a star-studded and very experienced team in the Sydney Sixers.
Going for three consecutive championships, I think Perry will lead them to the trophy once again.
Sydney Sixers to win, Ellyse Perry player of the match.
Venue: Drummoyne Oval, Sydney
Time: 10:10am AEDT
TV: Fox Sports, Seven Network
Betting: Sydney Sixers $1.47, Brisbane Heat $2.63
Sydney Sixers (squad)
Sarah Aley, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Marizanne Kapp, Carly Leeson, Sara McGlashan, Ellyse Perry C, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Lauren Smith, Dan Van Niekerk
Brisbane Heat (squad)
Jemma Barsby, Haidee Birkett, Josie Dooley, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Suné Luus, Beth Mooney, Georgia Prestwidge, Laura Wolvaardt
Join The Roar for all the action from Drummoyne Oval, starting at 10:10am AEDT.
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
Just finished watching highlights of last three games, can't believe how good women can be hitting that ball, almost bought tears to my eyes! And uff those numbers from Perry!
JD St George
Roar Pro
This is probably exactly what I and the WBBL organisers wanted. If the Sixers had taken out 3 of the 4 WBBL seasons then the interest in the game as a competition would peter out very quickly. Congrats to the Heat.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Thanks for tuning into today's coverage of the WBBL|04 final, where the Brisbane Heat have won by three wickets. It has certainly been an enjoyable match to blog for you, hope you all enjoy the long weekend and the Test coverage, which starts soon. Sixers 7/131 Heat 7/132
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Nice to see someone else win the WBBL!
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
The post-match presentations are just beginning... Player of the tournament is Sixers' captain Ellyse Perry. Player of the match is the Heat's Beth Mooney for her 65 runs, 2 catches and a stumping, all while battling heat exhaustion. Sixers 7/131 Heat 7/132
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
BRISBANE HEAT WIN BY THREE WICKETS! Wow, what a final. That had everything from brilliant bowling and batting, to a panicked finish and heat exhaustion. 5368 people rocked up to Drummoyne Oval (a sell out) and many more have watched on tv around the country, witnessing a fantastic match, where a new team have been crowned champions, defeating a team full of International players going for a three-peat. Sixers 7/131 Heat 7/132
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
The Heat definitely panicked in those final three overs and you're right, they had no need to.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Fantastic game!!
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Beth Mooney top scored today with 65 from 46 balls in the run chase, despite the heat visibly affecting her. The Heat captain Kirby Short backed mooney up with 29 runs as well. van Niekerk picked up 2 wickets, as did Erin Burns, all important ones towards the end of the innings. But it wasn't enough, the Sixers have gone down in an awesome WBBL final to the Brisbane Heat.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Absolutely brilliant by the Heat, what drama to finish WBBL|04. The Sixers fought back with late wickets, but Brisbane lifted and Laura Harris finishes with FOUR in the gap of two Sixers’ fielders, to win. The Brisbane Heat have won their first WBBL tournament, taking the trophy out of Sydney for the first time. Over 19.2 Heat 7/132
Matt P
Roar Rookie
It’s incredibly frustrating how many players panic when the match situation isn’t even out of hand. Thankfully it hasn’t cost us today.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Kapp to Harris, FOUR! The fielders run into each other and the ball goes for FOUR! BRISBANE HEAT HAVE WON WBBL 04! Over 19.2 Heat 7/132
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Kapp to Kimmince... time taken setting the field, Kimmince can't connect over the infield. Bounces, Perry collects, 1 run taken. Harris on strike now... Over 19.1 Heat 7/128
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Kapp (1/11 so far) will bowl the final over of the innings... Over 19 Heat 7/127
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
5 runs from 6 balls. 4 will take it to a Super Over. Wow. This is going right down to the wire, but could be finished in one ball... Over 19 Heat 7/127
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
WICKET! van Niekerk to Wolvaardt, Harris calls her back for two, but a brilliant throw from Kapp and Healy runs her out. Wow. Another wicket, another breakthrough. 6 off 7 balls. Wolvaardt 9 (5) run out Healy Over 18.4 Heat 7/125
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
van Niekerk to Wolvaardt, clears the infield and goes for FOUR! 7 from 8 balls. Over 18.4 Heat 6/125
Red Block
Roar Rookie
If you want to know what is wrong with Australian cricket, both men and women, then watch the Heat bat. After needing 16 runs from 16 balls, the batters decided to invent shots and try the big hit 'glory' shot instead of just knocking the ball around and picking up ones and twos and cruising to an easy victory. Who is coaching our players?
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
11 off 9. Over 18.3 Heat 6/121
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
What a tight contest this is! Brilliant to watch, van Niekerk to finish her overs in the 19th. van Niekerk to Wolvaardt, two runs at deep extra cover. Over 18.1 Heat 6/119