WBBL Round-up: Internationals fire in topsy-turvy day

Ferling fires Heat to big win

A devastating spell from Brisbane Heat quick Holly Ferling brought the Sydney Thunder undone at the Gabba in the final match of an epic weekend of Rebel Women's Big Bash League action.

Set an imposing 142 for victory, the Thunder didn't recover after losing early wickets, succumbing to a 14-run defeat.

The trouble started then they lost opener Rachel Haynes for 1 in the second over, courtesy of a brilliant Lauren Winfield catch off the bowling of Courtney Hill.

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Out strode the skipper Alex Blackwell to join West Indies star Stefanie Taylor at the crease, but her stay was shortlived, departing four balls later after having her stumps rattled by Ferling. The Kingaroy fast bowler then sent Nicola Carey and Naomi Stalenberg back to the dugout in quick succession, leaving the Thunder floundering at 4-25.

As long as the dangerous Taylor was at the crease the Thunder remained in the match, but while she struck three boundaries and a big six on her way to a 47-ball 43, her departure left too much work for the Thunder tail, who finished 9-127 at the end of their 20 overs.

While Ferling's four-over spell of 3-21 was not quite as potent as her 4-8 against the Scorchers last weekend, it was another pleasing show from the Australian fast bowler.

It capped an impressive recovery from the Heat after a loss to the Renegades earlier in the day. While Grace Harris remained out of the XI due to a quad concern and Beth Mooney suffered a rare failure, Jess Jonassen led the way with a suburb knock of 47 from 44 balls, ably supported by Delissa Kimmince (29) and Winfield (25).

Their departure sparked a batting collapse that saw the Heat lose 4-4, but their eventual total of 8-141 proved sufficient as they posted their sixth win from 10 matches.

Terrific Taylor too much for Thunder

There's a reason Sarah Taylor has been touted as one of the biggest signings in this Rebel Women's Big Bash League.

With the Strikers requiring a hefty 149 to topple the unbeaten Thunder, the England superstar stepped up with a stunning unbeaten knock of 71 off 46 balls, finding the boundary eight times as she carried her bat and led Adelaide to a six-wicket victory.

The early loss of West Indies allrounder Stacy-Ann King had the Strikers 1-8, but Taylor - with support from Bridget Patterson (26), Sophie Devine (15) and Lauren Ebsary (19) - saw her team home with an over to spare.

It continued a strong Australian summer for the England wicketkeeper, who recovered from a below-par Ashes series to score two tons for South Australia in the WNCL, before switching to the Strikers blue for WBBL|01.

Earlier, a good all-round batting performance from the Thunder helped them post 6-148, led by a speedy 30 off 19 balls from 21-year-old Naomi Stalenberg and supported by Rachel Haynes (36 off 29) and Alex Blackwell (31 off 30).

The Strikers will be pleased to get their first points on the board after being one of the favourites prior to the start of the season following their WNCL title win, while the Thunder have a chance to turn things around against the Heat in their second match of the afternoon.

Renegades imports end Heat's winning run

What a difference a day makes. On Saturday, the Renegades slumped to their fourth-straight loss of the Rebel Women's Big Bash League season, surrendering to the Thunder by six wickets.

The young Renegades outfit was always going to rely on their internationals to fire to produce the desired result and finally, on Sunday at the Gabba against the red-hot Brisbane Heat, everything finally clicked for the team in red.

First, international allrounders Danielle Wyatt and Dane van Niekerk ripped through the Heat batters - who were without in-form opener Grace Harris, rested due to a slight quad concern - before they backed up their efforts with the bat, joining with New Zealand star Rachel Priest to secure the seven-wicket victory.

Leggie Van Niekerk collected the key top-order wickets of Delissa Kimmince (8), Lauren Winfield (26) and Laura Harris (1) in a spell of 4-20, before Wyatt's off-spin ripped through the tail as she reaped 4-12.

Heat opener Beth Mooney's rich vein of form with the bat continued as she posted a run-a-ball 50, but Winfield was the only other batter to reach double figures in a disappointing total of 110.

Priest and van Niekerk then combined in a 53-run opening stand, and when Priest departed Wyatt flourished, striking four boundaries in an unbeaten knock of 28 to see the Renegades home with 19 balls to spare.  

Kapp captures the moment in Sixers' win

It took a while to get there, but Ellyse Perry’s Sixers have got their first points in the Rebel Women's Big Bash League after beating the Perth Scorchers in front of a crowd and the cameras at the Sydney Cricket Ground.  

Read the full report: Kapp, Perry star in Sixers’ maiden win

The Sixers’ South African international Marizanne Kapp wreaked havoc with the ball early on, claiming 3-9 off her four overs to ensure the Scorchers only just scraped past the century mark, eventually posting a total of 107. 

In reply an anchoring innings by Perry (32 off 43 balls), who is starting to find her feet as captain, guided the Sixers home in the 19th over.

Though economical in her previous matches, Kapp had struggled for wickets, only managing to muster two in total. Today it all came together, while tidy bowling returns for Perry (2-20) and Lisa Sthalekar (0-21) ensured that the Sixers entered the innings break for the first time satisfied with their efforts.

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Alyssa Healy and Perry then made an encouraging start to the chase, reaching 29 before Healy was stumped in the 6th over. 

A trickle of cameos came and went, doing enough to ensure that Perry herself was there at the end, a crisp straight drive doing the job to get the Sixers over the line.

Hurricanes topple Lanning's Stars

After six matches, the success of the Hobart Hurricanes in the Rebel Women's Big Bash League was largely due to tight bowling and brilliant fielding, enabling them to defend several below-par totals. Until today.

Sure, another excellent performance with the ball sealed an emphatic 30-run win over the Melbourne Stars, but the result was set up by the Hurricanes' best performance with the bat in the tournament to date, led by teenage sensation Hayley Matthews.

The 17-year-old West Indian cut, pulled and swept her way to 77 off 51 balls, scoring 14 boundaries in a destructive knock. Elevated to the top of the order for the match at Blacktown International Sports Park, she made the most of the opportunity, partnering with Kiwi Amy Satterthwaite in an 88-run stand that gave Hobart an excellent foundation after the early loss of skipper and leading run-scorer Heather Knight (2). 

While a late run of wickets stalled what could have been a larger total, the Hurricanes' eventual total of 6-144 was their largest of the tournament, eclipsing their previous high of 6-133.

The Stars had headed into the match with an unblemished record, largely thanks to the batting of skipper Meg Lanning.

Preventing another big knock from the world's No.1 batter was always going to be the key for Hobart and so it proved when she was caught in the covers by Matthews for 20 in the sixth over, her first dismissal for fewer than 50 runs this tournament.

When England import Natalie Sciver was run out seven balls later the job became even tougher for the Stars and while Katie Mack (34) was impressive, she lacked assistance as another very tight all-round bowling performance skittled the Stars for 114, ensuring the Hurricanes maintained their position on the top of the table.