WBBL: Kerr, Sippel and Hancock take Heat to Challenger

Brisbane Heat 169 for 8 (Kerr 48, G Harris 45, Darlington 3-42) beat Sydney Thunder 125 for 9 (Athapaththu 41, Sippel 3-9, Hancock 2-16) by 44 runs

Heat will play within the Challenger in opposition to Perth Scorchers on Wednesday on the WACA. The winner of that match will face Adelaide Strikers in Saturday’s closing at Adelaide Oval.

“Perth are a quality side and they have got world class players, we’re going to have to play well to beat them,” Kerr mentioned after getting the participant of the match award. “It’s about recovering tonight and then getting ready to go again tomorrow.”

In good batting circumstances, Thunder by no means significantly challenged in a disappointing ending to a bounce again season after final season’s picket spoon.

“It [surface] definitely bounced a lot…we didn’t quite make use of the conditions,” Thunder captain Heather Knight mentioned.

Both groups needed to endure a cross-country journey after tailing off within the common season to overlook ending within the prime two. Thunder gained the toss and elected to subject in cool and overcast circumstances in a notable change to oppressive current climate in Perth.

Harris’ timing was beautiful, however she additionally showcased her trademark energy by smashing offspinner Lauren Smith into the big sightscreen close to the rubble the place the Prindiville Stand as soon as stood.

With her half-century in sight, Harris on the subsequent ball tried one other lusty blow however she mistimed to deep midwicket. Harris had dominated the opening stand with Georgia Redmayne, whose struggles this season with being tied down on the crease continued. She made a sluggish 18 off 24 earlier than being caught behind off seamer Hannah Darlington.

Kerr took over with candy pictures across the wicket as Heat eyed a complete round 200. She successfully went aerially within the energy surge, whereas Laura Harris was eager to make up for misplaced time in her second match again after being sidelined for 2 months with a calf harm.

Harris smashed Smith over deep midwicket for six off her first ball then whacked Darlington on her subsequent supply with a crunching blow by the off-side.

But she quickly fell lbw to an excellent full slower supply from Johnson, who discovered her size and ignited a late comeback from Thunder. Left-arm spinner Samantha Bates bowled precisely on the demise to limit Heat to a complete that solely felt par.

But the dismissal appeared to ignite Athapaththu, who went after left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen with decisive footwork. She was much less assured in opposition to tempo and it proved her downfall on 41 when Athapaththu succumbed to a well-targeted supply from Sippel.

When Kerr had Phoebe Litchfield caught and bowled, Thunder slumped to 61 for 3 on the midway level they usually by no means recovered as Heat lived to battle one other day.