The upcoming cricket calendar is set to feature a riveting encounter in the Women’s Big Bash League 2023 as the Brisbane Heat Women lock horns with the Sydney Thunder Women in the 52nd match at the picturesque Adelaide Oval. Scheduled for November 24, this daytime clash promises to be an exciting affair, commencing at 10:10 AM IST.
The Brisbane Heat find themselves in the leading position to secure the coveted knockout stages, boasting seven triumphs in their tally of 13 fixtures. They stand in a formidable spot, with a net run rate of +0.134, surpassing direct rivals Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers for the knockout phase spot.
Despite this advantageous position, the Heat were recently on the receiving end of a narrow defeat by the Sydney Sixers. It was Amelia Kerr’s impressive half-century that hoisted Brisbane Heat to a respectable score of 176/7 within their allotted 20 overs. However, the collective effort from the Sixers’ batters, each contributing scores above the 20-run mark, led to a successful chase, finalized with merely one ball remaining.
Sydney Thunder, not without their own share of woes, sit in a safer zone, slightly higher up with 15 points after 12 matches. In their latest outing, the Thunder endured a narrow loss to the Adelaide Strikers by a mere three runs—an encounter where the Strikers set a modest target batting first with 121/7, that left Thunder trailing by a close margin, managing only 118/7.
The pitch report tips the scales towards bowling first at the Adelaide venue, as statistics from the last 10 matches indicate that the average first innings score lingers around the 127 mark. Teams that have won chasing recently boast an impressive 80 percent success rate, suggesting that fortune favors those wielding the ball first under Adelaide’s skies.
The weather report paints a pleasant picture, forecasting a comfortable day of cricket at the Adelaide Oval, with temperatures expected to hover around 18.19 degrees Celsius and humidity levels peaking at 68 percent.
The talent-rich squads for both teams are as follows:
Brisbane Heat Women consist of Ellie Johnston, Georgia Voll, Laura Harris, Mignon du Preez, Mikayla Hinkley, Amelia Kerr, Charli Knott, Grace Harris, Bess Heath (wk), Georgia Redmayne (wk), Bonnie Berry, Courtney Sippel, Grace Parsons, Jess Jonassen (c), Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, and Sarah Glenn.
Sydney Thunder Women are gearing up with Anika Learoyd, Claire Moore, Heather Knight (c), Olivia Porter, Phoebe Litchfield, Saskia Horley, Chamari Athapaththu, Isabella Malgioglio, Marizanne Kapp, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Paris Bowdler (wk), Tahlia Wilson (wk), Ebony Hoskin, Hannah Darlington, Lauren Smith, and Samantha Bates.
Contemplating the ideal fantasy cricket lineup for such a match-up, one would look at wicket-keepers Georgia Redmayne and Tahlia Wilson, batters Grace Harris, Heather Knight, and Mignon du Preez. The all-round prowess of Jess Jonassen alongside Chamari Athapaththu, and the bowling acumen of Samantha Bates, Nicole Hancock, and Hannah Darlington would form a formidable team, with Athapaththu and Jonassen as captain and vice-captain, respectively.
Star player Grace Harris from Brisbane Heat has a stellar run of 371 runs in 13 matches, boasting an average of 30.92 and a striking rate of 171.76, which includes a half-century and a century. From the Thunder’s pavilion, Chamari Athapaththu leads as the highest run-scorer with 451 runs in 12 matches, a strike rate of 134.63, and an average of 45.1. Their bowling counterparts, Jess Jonassen and Hannah Darlington, both exhibit impressive statistics, with Jonassen securing 16 wickets in 12 matches and Darlington clinching 18 wickets in 12 matches.
Historically, the Brisbane Heat Women and Sydney Thunder Women have met on 19 T20 occasions, with Heat winning 10 and Thunder 9. The recent five T20 clashes resulted in three victories for Brisbane Heat Women and two for Sydney Thunder Women. In these encounters, the highest and lowest team scores were 204 by Sydney Thunder Women and 120 by Brisbane Heat Women, respectively.
The teams’ performances suggest that the side setting the score has won four out of six times, while the team chasing has triumphed in six out of thirteen matches.
In summary, the punters and fans alike predict that Brisbane Heat Women are the favorites to clinch the upcoming match given their recent form, having emerged victorious in three of their last five tussles with Sydney Thunder Women. As both teams gear up for a spectacular showdown, all eyes will be on the Adelaide Oval as the action unfolds in this much-anticipated Women’s Big Bash League encounter.