Brisbane Heat outclassed Melbourne Stars by six wickets in Match 30 of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBL) 2024. The Heat’s dominant performance at the Drummoyne Oval was spearheaded by Lucy Hamilton, who claimed her maiden five-wicket haul in the WBBL.
Melbourne Stars’ Innings: Struggles and Sparks
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Brisbane Heat quickly gained the upper hand as Melbourne Stars struggled to build momentum. Hamilton stole the show with her remarkable bowling display, finishing with figures of 5/8 in her four overs. Her scalps included key wickets such as Annabel Sutherland (21) and the dangerous Meg Lanning (13).
Kim Garth stood out for the Stars, contributing a valiant 31 off 20 balls with three fours and a six, while Rhys McKenna added a useful 20 off 15. Maisy Gibson’s late cameo of 15 from 11 balls, featuring two sixes, helped the Stars scrape their way to 138 all out in the allotted 20 overs.
Shikha Pandey (2/31) provided solid support to Hamilton with the ball, while Grace Parsons chipped in with a wicket.
Brisbane Heat’s Chase: Calm and Composed
Chasing 139 for victory, Brisbane Heat had a shaky start, losing Grace Harris (6) and Georgia Redmayne (19) early. However, Jemimah Rodrigues steadied the innings with a fluent 45 off 31 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes. Her partnership with Charli Knott, who played a composed knock of 35 off 36, proved decisive.
Laura Harris brought some fireworks to the chase with a quick 10 off 5, while skipper Jess Jonassen sealed the game with an unbeaten 17 off 11 balls, ensuring the Heat crossed the line comfortably in 17.3 overs.
For the Stars, Garth, Sutherland and Tess Flintoff picked up a wicket each, but the target proved too modest to defend.
Key takeaways
Hamilton’s devastating spell was the highlight of the game, as her precision and variations dismantled the Stars’ batting lineup. Heat’s batting depth, with contributions across the board, ensured a smooth chase despite some early hiccups.
The victory reinforces Heat’s position in the WBBL standings as they continue their quest for the title. Stars, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their batting frailties to stay in contention for the playoffs.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
WBBL 2024: Brisbane Heat cruise to victory over Melbourne Stars, powered by Lucy Hamilton’s heroics
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