Adelaide Strikers won their first Women’s Big Bash League title by beating Sydney Sixers in the final match of the season at the North Sydney Oval, Sydney on Saturday. Strikers were continuously qualifying for the finals in the last three seasons but couldn’t convert the opportunity into a victory.
After winning the toss, Adelaide Strikers opted to bat first. The opening pair of Katie Mack and Laura Wolvaardt set the tone for a good total with a 51-run opening stand. Wolvaardt’s scored 15 runs off 16 balls before getting out in the seventh over, while Mack departed after scoring 31 runs off 16 balls in the very next over.
However, captain Tahlia McGrath and all-rounder Deandra Dottin lifted the innings and started scoring quickly. Striker’s lower middle order couldn’t deliver as per expectations, however, wicketkeeper-batter Tegan McPharlin joined hands with Dottin and kept the wicket safe from the other hand which helped Dottin to finish the inning nicely.
Sydney Sixers bad start cost them the WBBL Trophy
The two times champions Sydney Sixers started their innings by losing 4 wickets early in the first six overs. They got off to a worst possible start, having lost four wickets for just 16 runs on the board. Skipper Ellyse Perry and Nicole Bolton then took on the responsibility to get the run chase back in place. Both added 60 runs together for the fifth wicket but it was not enough to win the match.
Sixers did not back down from the challenge as Sophie Ecclestone and Maitlan Brown threatened and tried very hard in the final overs of the innings. But it all went in vain as Megan Schutt bowled a brilliant slower one which completely deceived Ecclestone, which meant the match was but done. Striker’s bowling department did a really tremendous job as they cleaned up tailenders quickly to get closer to the WBBL trophy for the first time.
Dottin was adjudged as the player of the match in the final for her unbeaten knock of 52 runs off just 37 balls followed by some excellent bowling effort by taking 2 wickets while conceding 30 runs in 4 overs. Meanwhile, Sydney Sixer’s batter Ashleigh Gardner won the Player of the Series award.
