In the rain-affected match, the Sydney Thunder defeated the Hobart Hurricanes by 33 runs, largely thanks to Heather Knight’s brisk 28-ball 48. After Hannah Darlington took three wickets, the Hurricanes quickly lost a match cut to 17 overs on each side.
It’s interesting to note that three days ago, these two teams squared off in their first meeting, with a different outcome. With Chamari Athapaththu leading the charge with a quick 38,
Thunder, who had put on a poor batting performance in that encounter, were far superior this time. This time, captain Phoebe Litchfield was ejected early after scoring a valiant fifty in the previous match. Knight took control, though, smashing seven boundaries in her 48 to lay the groundwork for a commanding 146/5.
Shabnim Ismail castled Nicola Carey to give Thunder early control after Athapaththu rejected Danielle Wyatt-Hodge early in the run pursuit.
Considering that Carey struck a fifty in the previous match, her wicket was enormous. After Darlington ended Lizelle Lee’s difficulties, Heather Graham and Elyse Villani stood to steady the ship.
But the game was changed entirely when both set hitters were removed in four deliveries. Then, when the Hurricanes gave up pathetically, wickets dropped in piles as 93/3 quickly turned into 105/8. The batting side easily lost the chase after those wickets robbed it of all vitality.
Brief scores: Hobart Hurricanes 113/8 in 17 overs (Heather Graham 31; Hannah Darlington 3/16) lost by 33 runs to Sydney Thunder 146/5 in 17 overs (Heather Knight 48, Chamari Athapaththu 38; Heather Graham 2/22).
