Women’s Big Bash League 2017-18, Day 3: Round Up

The third day of action in the ongoing Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) experienced one-sided and low-scoring encounters. Lavington Sports Oval in Albury and North Dalton Park in Wollongong, the new venues, hosted the two games of the day which were won by Sydney Thunders Perth Scorchers. However, it was a brilliant day for the Indian star Harmanpreet Kaur with the ball and helped his team win their second game of the competition. The other Indian recruit Veda Krishnamurthy playing for Hobart Hurricanes would also hope to improve her performance now in the next match.

Scorchers win by nine wickets against Sixers

Perth Scorchers registered their second win in as many games and continued their good run in the initial stages of the tournament. After being inserted to bat first Sixers lost their top in the first 9 overs itself and were reeling at 47/3. But Erin Burns played well amidst the wickets kept on falling at the other end. She scored a crucial 33 runs off just 25 balls as no other batter could cross even 15-run mark. Eventually, they scored 122 runs only for the loss eight wickets.

In reply, Scorchers were never in trouble thanks to their opener and the skipper Elyse Villani who was well assisted by Nicole Bolton at the top. The latter was only dismissed after a brilliant century stand for the first wicket as they added 106 runs. Villani though remained unbeaten until the end and saw the team through with a fluent unbeaten knock of 74 off 61 deliveries which included 11 fours and a couple of maximums. Sixers, on the other hand, ensured that they didn’t lose by a huge margin and bowled tightly throughout only to allow them the winning the runs in the 19th over with nine wickets in hand.

Kaur, Haynes star in Thunders victory

Harmanpreet Kaur and Rachel Haynes starred for Sydney Thunders against Melbourne Stars and notched up their second win in three games in the second match of the day in WBBL. Lizelle Lee and Anna Lanning started on a bright note for Stars after being put in to bat by Thunders skipper Alex Blackwell. But then Kaur and Nicola Carey scalped five wickets between them to arrest their run-scoring big time. The Indian superstar bowled beautifully and returned with the figures of 3/18. Carey supported her well with two wickets conceding only 17 runs from her quota of overs as Stars could only muster 114/8 in 20 overs.

Thunders, in reply, romped home courtesy a swashbuckling half-century from the opener Rachel Haynes who was only dismissed on 54, 20 runs adrift of the target. Rachel Priest, her partner also batted well for her 35-ball 38 run knock. Stars bowlers had no answers and clearly had very less runs to defend. They joined Hobart Hurricanes in the points table to have lost both the games and are languishing at the bottom.

Brief Scores:

Match 7: Sydney Sixers Women v Perth Scorchers

Sixers 122/8 after 20 overs (E Burns 33; K Brunt 2/19, E King 2/19)

Scorchers 123/1 after 18.2 overs (E Villani 74*, N Bolton 42)

Match 8: Sydney Thunders Women v Melbourne Stars Women

Stars 114/8 after 20 overs (L Lee 31; H Kaur 3/18, N Carey 2/17)

Thunders 115/2 after 14.3 overs (R Haynes 54, R Priest 38)