The fight for the finals continues for Maisy Gibson and the Hurricanes, after early bowling efforts from Hobart were unravelled by an explosive haul from Brisbane’s Grace Harris, who saved the Heat with her match-high 43-run stint.
The seven-run loss at Blundstone Arena in Hobart seals Brisbane as one of the competition’s four semi-finalists, while the Hurricanes are left adrift of the playoffs with just three wins to their names in 10 matches.
The battle at Blundstone seemed to be going the home side’s way for much of their bowling stint too, as Gibson shattered Brisbane’s leading combo of Maddy Green and Sammy-Jo Johnson in quick succession.
Two wickets in three balls for Maisy Gibson! Maddy Green (24) and Jess Jonassen (29) make way for the Harris sisters.
Heat 4-67 (10.0), LIVE: https://t.co/CzEx7Bzgbq #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/M7Jm65h97F
— Rebel Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 22, 2019
The rapid-fire double for Hunter’s spin-queen piled on the hurt for Brisbane, after Belinda Vakarewa scored her first of three with a key catch against opener Beth Mooney after just four runs. Mooney has led the way for the Heat for much of the year.
Gibson – who added a catch from the field to send Amelia Kerr for 21 – was forced to watch as her hard work to snipe Green and Johnsen at 3-57 and 4-58 was undone by the Harris sisters, with Grace leading the way with 43.
Laura Harris held up the other side of the partnership with 18, carving out an imposing 9-157 for the ladder-leading Heat, and a late-order 21 from Kerr before she was caught out by Gibson to bring an end to the haul.
Three wickets fall in the final over and the @HeatBBL reach 9-157 from their 20 overs.
Can the Hurricanes chase ’em down? LIVE: https://t.co/CzEx7Bzgbq #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/oZKO21EtsS
— Rebel Women’s Big Bash League (@WBBL) November 22, 2019
After a strong early attack with the ball, Hobart still had a mountainous 157 to climb in their twenty overs with the bat. It was a challenge they nearly overcame, but early-order grief dropped their chances in their tenth match.
Hurricane openers Erin Fazackerley (35) and Fran Wilson (32) got off to a good start, but the Canes hit rough seas as Heather Knight (1) and Nicola Carey (5) were ejected at 2-53 and 5-59 to put Hobart on the back foot once again.
Read more recent news
- Harrison penalty delivers Newcastle Jets first loss in stormy battle at Bankwest
- Newy speedster Charlotte Poynting eyeing wet-and-wild battle in hometown race
- Stewart to start on wing for Australia against Black Ferns in Oceania Championship
Canes captain and Hunter star Corinne Hall was able to right the ship slightly with 16 of her own, and Tayla Vlaeminck and Gibson combined late for 17 runs of their own, but the overs-count fell against them as they ran-out just seven runs short.
Hobart’s Brisbane defeat comes just days after they seemed to have found their footing against the Sydney Sixers – albeit without superstar all-rounder Elyse Perry, who was felled with injury – with a five-wicket win in North Sydney.
Hall clocked up 28 runs in their game-nine victory against the playoff-bound Sixers, while Gibson made her three overs in attack count with a wicket.
The Hurricanes return to action this evening, when they face another tough task against the second-placed Adelaide Strikers. Fans can listen live to the action on ABC radio, or follow all the results on live.bigbash.com.au.
