There will be an exciting Women's Big Bash League match between the reigning champions Perth Scorchers Women and the Brisbane Heat in the 36th game of the season. It's up to the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat to stave off each other's challenge today. With a couple of points today, they'll be able to soar to the top of the points table and land a confidence-denting blow.
Despite comfortable run-chases, both teams enter this game with high expectations. Against the Hurricanes, Laura Harris smashed an 18-ball half-century to power the Heat to a win with Beth Mooney putting on a masterclass for the Scorchers against the Sixers. Despite having a number of all-round stars at their disposal, the Scorchers are riding high on confidence and are backed by an offense led by Sophie Devine, Marizanne Kapp, and Alana King. On the other hand, the Heat are backed by Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar and Jess Jonassen, in spite of that, a lot may depend on a few key batters as far as the end-result of this contest is concerned, which is the likes of Georgia Redmayne, Danielle Wyatt and Mooney. Even though Kapp and Wyatt haven't contributed much with the bat, they both possess sufficient pedigree to outweigh each other.
In their own backyard, the Heat have scorched the defending champions with a dominant bowling performance and a stellar fielding display. With their openers Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney injured in the four-over powerplay, it was always going to be a difficult ask for the Scorchers, and the Heat bowlers hitting their radar only added to the challenge. In order to keep her attack fresh, Jess Jonassen kept switching her bowlers in and out of the attack, without ever getting a long spell from a bowler. It was the seamers who took advantage of the bounce, while the spinners had sufficient purchase when they hit the deck. As the asking rate climbed and the Scorchers lost wickets at a regular interval as the game progressed, Maddy Green was in charge of the revival. As a result of Marizanne Kapp's wicket before the drinks break, the final nail in the coffin was that it left Green and Mathilda Carmichael with a huge task on their hands.
Due to the high required run rate required by Power Surge, the decision to delay the Power Surge has backfired despite a steady partnership. The Heat didn't offer anything for Green to work with, so he couldn't switch gears. After the Power Surge, Nicola Hancock and Courtney Sippel teamed up to unleash a pair of brilliant overs that put an end to the Scorchers' ambitions, even as Green notched up a half-century of her own. As for the bowlers themselves, both Amelia Kerr and Charli Knott were excellent. Knott bowled the final over in the powerplay and accounted for Mooney's wicket in the process. Now that the Heat have pulled one back over the defending champions, they have climbed to the top of the table. With a lot of the burden continuing to rest on Mooney's shoulders at the moment, the Scorchers have work to do at the bat. Those in the top four need to win every game in order to consolidate their positions in the upper echelons of the table as the Hobart Hurricanes slowly climb the ladder. From the Heat's perspective, it was a clinical performance on the field and with the ball in hand. After their impressive 33-run win, the team now holds the top spot.
Perth Scorchers Women vs Brisbane Heat Women
Brisbane Heat Women won by 33 runs
Perth Scorchers Women - Sophie Devine, Piepa Cleary, Maddy Green, Marizanne Kapp, Charis Bekker, Alana King, Mathilda Carmichael, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Georgia Wyllie, Chloe Piparo, Taneale Peschel, Holly Ferling, Amy Edgar, Maddy Darke, Amy Edgar.
Brisbane Heat Women - Georgia Redmayne, Danni Wyatt, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Mikayla Hinkley, Jess Kerr, Ellie Johnston, Grace Harris, Charli Knott, Laura Harris, Grace Parsons, Jess Jonassen, Courtney Sippel, Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Georgia Voll.
Match 36 of Women's Big Bash League 2022 happened at the Lilac Hill cricket ground in Western Caversham, Australia.
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