Adelaide Strikers’ bowlers do it once more to safe back-to-back titles in ultimate thriller

Adelaide Strikers 125 for five (Wolvaardt 39, McGrath 38, Hancock 3-23) beat Brisbane Heat 122 for 8 (Kerr 30*, Wellington 3-16)

Adelaide Strikers claimed back-to-back WBBL titles after their star-studded assault fantastically defended a low complete to thwart Brisbane Heat in a nerve-jangling ultimate.

Strikers’ outstanding victory thwarted Heat, who have been enjoying their third sport in 5 days. A late season stoop had price them a house ultimate, however third-placed Heat reached the ultimate after beating Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers on consecutive days on the WACA.

But a well-rested Strikers, who had the week off, completed stronger to clinch a title defence with a tenth win from their final 11 video games.

Much of the pre-match speak had been centred round Strikers’ robust assault towards Heat’s highly effective batting line-up. But that battle needed to wait after McGrath elected to bat in good batting situations.

Much like in the course of the two finals on the WACA, Heat exploited bounce within the floor with Hancock bowling in-form Katie Mack within the second over.

Strikers recovered to achieve 34 for 1 after the powerplay as an intriguing tactical battle was enjoying out. Six totally different bowlers have been utilized in as many overs to start out the match as Jonassen stored rotating her bowlers in one-over spells in a bid to unsettle the batters.

The tactic ultimately did the trick as Heat pegged again Strikers earlier than Hancock produced an innings-changing over within the tenth over. She bowled an unrelenting again of a size line which left McGrath rattled after top-edging into her helmet and requiring medical consideration.

In the final supply earlier than drinks, Hancock hit the highest of McGrath’s off bail after the batter charged down the pitch as Heat gained a stranglehold.

Strikers solely mustered 54 runs within the final 10 overs with Wolvaardt unable to rediscover her earlier rhythm and she or he was left pissed off on 39 after being stumped off Jonassen.

In a bid for a late rally, Strikers took the ability surge however Bridget Patterson fell on the primary ball of the seventeenth over as their innings withered away.

Strikers’ hopes sank when Harris, who ignited Heat within the Perth finals with belligerent batting, was dropped on 13 by Madeline Penna at first slip off returning fast Darcie Brown.

But Harris fell shortly later when she holed out after failing to attach on a brief supply from offspinner Jemma Barsby. On a turning floor, Wellington proved a handful and dismissed opener Georgia Redmayne within the eighth over as Strikers clawed again.

Heat have been unable to get the ball away within the center overs because the strain heightened when du Preez and Harris have been bowled on consecutive deliveries by McGrath.

Having been badly dropped by Mack at deep midwicket within the sixteenth over, Knott fell shortly after to Schutt because the twists continued till the ultimate ball.