Hurricanes thump Stars in record women's Big Bash League showing
Hobart Hurricanes turned on the style with the bat to open their WBBL account with a thumping 72-run win over Melbourne Stars in Burnie on Sunday.
The Hurricanes racked up 196-6 – their highest WBBL score – before they limited the Stars to 124 off 16.5 overs, as the hosts bounced back in style from Saturday’s five-wicket defeat against the same opponents.
Smriti Mandhana made the most of the short boundaries at West Park on the banks of Bass Strait, with the opener top-scoring with a sparkling 69 off 41 balls, including 13 fours.
The only bad news was a possible recurrence to a hamstring injury to star import Hayley Matthews, with the Barbadian run out after she slipped while attempting to regain her ground at the non-striker’s end.
Matthews hit 42 off 30 balls while captain Sasha Moloney contributed a big-hitting 23 not out off just nine balls, including a six off the final ball of the innings.
The Stars’ run chase was effectively over just past the midway point of the innings when the visitors slipped to 90-6.
By that time the recognised batters had all departed, including match winners from Saturday Erin Osborne (16) and Mignon du Preez (3).
The Hurricanes’ star English import Heather Knight (3-10) wrapped up the tail, including a wonderful one-handed caught and bowled.
In Sydney, the Thunder rediscovered their form with bat and ball to record an impressive 28-run win over Brisbane Heat in a run-heavy contest at North Sydney Oval.
The Heat were bowled out for 164 off 18.5 overs in response to the home side’s massive 192-4.
The Thunder suffered a demoralising defeat against local rivals the Sixers on Saturday, but a day later they had numerous strong performers with the bat against the Heat’s strong bowling attack.
Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored with a whirlwind knock of 56 from 26 balls, including three sixes.
The Indian international batter reached her half century off just 23 balls, failing just one ball shy of the competition record.
Rachel Priest was not far behind her teammate scoring 49 off 28 balls, while fellow opener Rachael Haynes was more measured for her 36.
In reply, the Heat were briefly on track as they found the boundary with regularity, only for a mid-innings collapse to cruel their chances.
Heat Opener Grace Harris impressed with 54 off just 28 balls but her dismissal kick-started a dramatic collapse of six wickets for just 10 runs.
Maisy Gibson (3-18) and Stafanie Taylor (3-23) did most of the damage with the ball.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Renegades and Adelaide Strikers had to settle for a share of the spoils, with their WBBL match falling victim to persistent rain at Ballarat in Victoria.