Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat

The Hurricanes’ woeful season continued on New Year’s Eve, with a heavy loss against Brisbane.

After a solid opening stand, the Heat’s innings never really got going due to a constant flow of wickets. Grace Harris continued her fantastic season at the top of the order and looks to be making an insurmountable case to be in the next Australian T20 team.

Everyone in the middle order got a start, but no one could get going until 18-year old Josie Dooley smashed 44 off 30.

The standouts with the ball were veterans Heather Knight and Veronica Pyke, as well as young Meg Phillips, who continued her good form and cleaned up the tail.

The Hurricanes were slight favourites at the halfway point, but their innings did not go to plan as they consistently lost wickets and their biggest partnership was just 22 runs.

After two years at the bottom of the ladder, this squad needs a complete overhaul. For the Heat, their solid season continued, and all of their bowlers got at least one wicket. Harris proved especially tough to get away, claiming 1/8 off three overs.

Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers

The Sixers continued their WBBL success, and Adelaide’s finals hopes slipped away in a tight New Year’s Eve match at Adelaide Oval.

Ellyse Perry had another fantastic knock, this time supported by Ash Gardner, as they put on 93 for the second wicket. Gardner’s ability to get on top of the bowling was clear, but Amanda-Jade Wellington proved tough to get away, picking up 2/19 off four overs.

The Strikers run chase was a microcosm of their season – one of their openers fired, a middle order batter played a helping hand, and nearly everyone else was out in single figures.

Suzie Bates and Tahlia McGrath were the contributors, taking their side from 3/46 to 4/113. At that point, the Strikers looked to be favourites but within six deliveries both McGrath and Bates were out and the game had turned.

Dane van Niekerk was awarded Player of the Match honours for her spell of 2/12, but it was the crucial wicket of Bates that really turned the match. The Strikers needed 28 off the last four overs, but with new batters at the crease, they lost four wickets in four overs and fell just short.

This loss essentially spelled the end of the Strikers season, while the Sixers are shaping up as the team to beat once again this season.