Sydney Thunder Beat Brisbane Heat by 19 Runs in WBBL Clash in Perth

Sydney Thunder continued their strong start to the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season with a 19-run victory over Brisbane Heat at the WACA in Perth. The win, their third in four matches, saw Thunder remain at the top of the points table, while the Heat suffered their third defeat in five games.

The Thunder set a competitive target of 171 for the Heat, finishing their 20 overs with a score of 170/5. Openers Chamari Athapaththu (33 off 25) and Georgia Voll (22 off 22) provided a solid foundation, before the middle order accelerated. Phoebe Litchfield (40 off 25) and Heather Knight (59* off 34) put on a crucial 57-run stand off 37 balls, with both batters finding the boundary with ease. Litchfield was dismissed in the 16th over, but Knight took charge in the death overs, smashing Grace Parsons for four fours in the 18th over to propel Thunder to a strong total.

The Heat's chase got off to a shaky start, as Sydney Thunder’s bowlers struck early. Hannah Darlington and Taneale Peschel removed the top two batters within the first five overs, leaving Brisbane Heat struggling at 35/2. Grace Harris and Charlie Knott then attempted to rebuild the innings, but their partnership was short-lived. Peschel dismissed Harris for 41, and from there, the Thunder bowlers continued to dominate. Athapaththu (2-33) and left-arm spinner Samantha Bates (4-25) ripped through the middle and lower order, taking crucial wickets as the Heat slumped to 107/7.

Despite a valiant 55 from Charli Knott, the Heat were unable to keep up with the required rate. Bates and Peschel's combined brilliance meant that six Heat batters were dismissed for single-digit scores, leaving the team struggling to chase down the target. In the final over, Shabnim Ismail took the last wicket, dismissing Grace Parsons to leave Brisbane Heat all out for 151 in 19.1 overs, 19 runs short of victory.

The win sees Sydney Thunder maintain their position at the top of the WBBL standings with three wins from four matches. Meanwhile, Brisbane Heat will need to regroup as they aim to bounce back from a tough start to the season.

Brief Scores:

Sydney Thunder Women 170/5 in 20 overs (Heather Knight 59*, Phoebe Litchfield 40; Jess Jonassen 3-22)
Brisbane Heat Women 151 in 19.1 overs (Charli Knott 55, Grace Harris 41; Samantha Bates 4-25, Taneale Peschel 2-23, Chamari Athapaththu 2-33)
Sydney Thunder won by 19 runs.