A dominant partnership between Heather Knight and Rachael Haynes helped Sydney Thunder score a thumping 58-run WBBL victory over the Adelaide Strikers.
Key points:
- Knight and Haynes compiled a 122-run partnership in the Thunder’s win
- The Scorchers posted a rain-affected 18-run win over the Renegades at Drummoyne Oval
- Rain meant the Heat-Hurricanes match ended as a no-result, while no play was possible in the Sixers-Stars encounter
But rain wreaked havoc on the other three matches of the day, with only the Perth Scorchers able to muster a result against the Melbourne Renegades.
England international Knight slugged 11 fours and three sixes on her way to a 39-ball 83 in a sparkling knock to help lift the Thunder to 6-190 at Sydney Showground.
In reply, the Strikers managed 8-132 from their allotted overs, despite the best efforts of opener Tahlia McGrath (46 off 37).
The result ended a frustrating start to the season for the Thunder, whose opening two matches were washed out by rain.
The 122-run partnership off 10.1 overs between Knight and Haynes (39 off 27) proved to be the difference, with the pair taking the Thunder’s score from 3-64 in the ninth over to 186 with eight balls remaining in their innings.
The Scorchers rose to fourth on the table after posting a rain-affected 18-run win over the Renegades at Drummoyne Oval.
The Renegades were restricted to 5-105 from their 20 overs with Nicole Bolton (2-13 off four overs) starring with the ball.
Courtney Webb (33 off 44 balls) and Sophie Molineux (29 off 41) made starts but the Renegades’ total always looked well short against a powerful Scorchers batting line-up.
In reply, the Scorchers reached 0-62 off 9.5 overs before rain stopped play.
With no further play possible, the Scorchers were awarded the win under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Scorchers opener Sophie Devine was named player-of-the-match for her unbeaten 31 off 28, while Beth Mooney finished unbeaten on 23.
The match between the Heat and the Hurricanes at Sydney Showground was deemed a no-result after it fell agonisingly short of completing the necessary overs.
In reply to Brisbane’s 2-80 from 11 overs, Hobart were cruising at 0-43 off 4.3 overs before rain hit again to end the contest.
If three more balls had been bowled and Hobart did not lose a wicket, they would have won.
The last-placed Hurricanes have now had two of their three matches washed out, with the other a loss.
The night fixture between the Sydney Sixers and the Melbourne Stars at the Showground was abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to the heavy rain.
It means the Stars have had all three of their matches washed out while the Sixers have had two rained out.
AAP
