Heather Knight Helps Sydney Thunder Open Account in WBBL
During the Hurricanes' chase, Sydney Thunder quickly established control. Athapaththu struck first, removing Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, and Shabnim Ismail followed up by bowling out Nicola Carey, who had been a standout performer in the earlier fixture with her own fifty.
Sydney Thunder secured their first victory of the WBBL season, defeating Hobart Hurricanes by 33 runs in a rain-affected match that was reduced to 17 overs per side. Heather Knight played a key role in the victory, scoring a quick-fire 48 runs off just 28 balls.
In this encounter, Thunder showcased significant improvement in their batting performance compared to their earlier fixture against the same team three days prior, where they struggled. Knight’s innings featured seven boundaries, setting a solid foundation for Thunder as they posted a total of 146 runs for the loss of five wickets. Chamari Athapaththu also contributed with a brisk 38 runs, while skipper Phoebe Litchfield, who had scored a half-century in the previous match, was dismissed early this time.
During the Hurricanes' chase, Sydney Thunder quickly established control. Athapaththu struck first, removing Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, and Shabnim Ismail followed up by bowling out Nicola Carey, who had been a standout performer in the earlier fixture with her own fifty. Hannah Darlington was instrumental in maintaining the pressure on the opposition, taking three wickets for just 16 runs, effectively dismantling the Hurricanes' batting lineup.
Although Elyse Villani and Heather Graham attempted to stabilize the innings with a crucial partnership, the game turned dramatically when both set batters fell within the span of just four deliveries. This collapse saw the Hurricanes' score plummet from 93 for 3 to 105 for 8, leaving them struggling to recover. Ultimately, the Hurricanes were unable to chase down the target, finishing their innings at 113 runs.
In summary, the match saw Sydney Thunder demonstrating resilience and skill, with Knight’s performance at the forefront, ensuring their campaign in the WBBL got off to a successful start. The brief scores were: Sydney Thunder 146/5 in 17 overs (Heather Knight 48, Chamari Athapaththu 38; Heather Graham 2/22) defeated Hobart Hurricanes 113/8 in 17 overs (Heather Graham 31; Hannah Darlington 3/16) by 33 runs.
