HATS OFF TO BROWN IN LOSING SIDE
A MASTERFUL captain’s call from Brisbane Heat skipper Jess Jonassen has thwarted Darcie Brown and the Adelaide Strikers on a rain-ravaged weekend.
When 18-year-old Brown claimed only the sixth hat-trick in WBBL history, the Strikers must have smelt victory.
But as the sun came out in Launceston, so, too, did the Heat, who, led by Jonassen, combined to end the Strikers’ unbeaten start to WBBL07 in the shortened 11-over fixture.
The wet weekend did not dampen the spirits of Brown, who on Sunday claimed the first WBBL hat-trick since 2019.
Georgia Voll was twice dropped on her way to an unbeaten 31 from 17 runs, her innings crucial as the Heat posted an impressive 104.
“I was just told to go out and back myself, and I think I did that today,” Voll said.
“I usually like to take a few balls to get in and get going but with the shortened game, with only a few overs left, I didn’t have that time. To get out there and have a good hitout was really good.”
It turned out the only thing that could foil Brown’s youthful exuberance was the steady hand of Jonassen.
Jonassen broke what was an ominous partnership between openers Laura Wolvaardt and Dane Van Niekerk by sending the latter on her way. On the next ball, she caught-and-bowled Tahlia McGrath.
The second wicket closed out her over but in a move as wise as it was selfless, she chose not to go for a hat-trick.
Jonassen sacrificed her shot at history, throwing Georgia Prestwidge the ball.
“I think JJ just thinks about the team and what we can do to get the win,” Voll said.
It proved a masterstroke – in her third over, Prestwidge dismissed Wolvaardt on 54 and also sent Madeline Penna packing to all but end the Strikers’ hopes of victory.
Sarah Coyte and AmandaJade Wellington each hit a boundary in the final over but it was too little too late.
But Brown’s heroics will have gone a long way to ensuring her first T20I appearance in March this year will not be her last.