Match Details
12:43 PM IST, 5:43 Local Time: So that’s that and it’s the Adelaide Strikers that have come out on top with a win by six wickets and 13 balls to spare against Sydney Thunder.
Opting to bowl first, the Strikers did terrifically well to restrict Thunder to 118/6 from 20 overs.
Anesu Mushangwe was quick to bag two wickets in the innings as she got the better of Tahila Wilson 7 (8) and the dangerous Phoebe Litchfield 0 (4) in one over. The skipper Heather Knight 8 (13) didn’t have much to offer either as she was sent back by Jemma Barsby.
Chamari Athapaththu 43 (40) wasn’t able to play her natural game due to some good bowling. But despite that, she still managed to top the charts for her side.
It was Tahila McGrath who chipped in with the big wicket of Athapaththu to add further advantage for the Strikers. The middle order duo of Marizanne Kapp 27 (27) and Anika Learoyd 27 (24) strung a 46 run partnership to add stability to the Thunder inning.
Both batters were eventually dismissed in the final over as Megan Schutt got into the act.
As for the run chase, the Adelaide Strikers started off the second innings in a fairly decent manner. Katie Mack and Laura Wolvaardt struck 44 runs together from seven overs.
It was Lauren Smith who broke the partnership by dismissing Mack 26 (24). She immediately followed it up with another wicket off the very next ball by sending back the skipper Tahila McGrath for a golden duck.
With the score being at 44/2 from 7.2 overs, the Thunder did add some sort of pressure but it was short lived as Woolvaardt and Bridget Patterson struck a 53 run stand to put their side on the driving seat.
Laura Woolvaardt 47 (45) turned out to be Lauren Smith’s third victim but it was too little too late as Bridget Patterson 36 (33)* took the onus of finishing the game in favour of the Thunder as they cruised to a comfortable win.
Lauren Smith was the sole wicket taker for her side courtesy her spell for 3/16 from four overs.
So the Sydney Thunder will have to regroup and recollect their thoughts as they look to make a comeback in the games ahead, meanwhile, the Strikers will be pleased with their near perfect performance on the field.