WBBL|02: The run home to finals

All eight teams remain in the running to secure a top-four spot in what looms as an exciting finish to the Rebel Women's Big Bash League season.

With two weekends of matches remaining and each team with four matches left to play, there will be an intense battle to secure top-four berths, with the Sydney Sixers currently the front runners sitting clear on top of the table.

Should teams finish level on points, they’ll be separated by number of wins first and then net run rate. With a thrilling finish in store, we’ve detailed what each of the eight teams need to do to keep their tournament hopes alive.

Table

Remaining fixtures

View the remaining WBBL|02 fixtures HERE.

State of play

Sydney Sixers

The Sixers have a game-and-a-half break on rest of their challengers to sit pretty on top of the ladder with 14 points. Last year’s runners-up started the season slowly but they are now on a hot streak having won six in a row.  

Their formidable batting line-up, led by the opening combination of Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy is arguably the best in the competition. The form of Ashleigh Gardner at No.3 and the experience of Sarah Aley with the ball has meant the Sixers are virtually guaranteed a finals spot even if they only win one of their last four matches and despite the fact they'll lose South Africa stars Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk to international duties for the final four group matches, with the pair to be available for finals.  

Hobart Hurricanes

The Hurricanes hold down second spot by one point with three teams trailing them on 10 points. The ‘Canes have not won back-to-back games since the second week of the tournament and to be a chance, they will need to win at least two of their last four matches. 

The tactic of elevating Erin Burns to the opening slot and pushing Hayley Matthews in the middle order has changed the dynamic of their side in recent matches and while the bowling still remains a weak point, the return of former Southern Stars opening bowler Julie Hunter has certainly bolstered the bowling unit in the last couple of matches.  

While they start their run home against the table topping Sixers away, they'll also play their final three matches on home soil. 

Melbourne Stars

The Stars broke their four-game losing streak by crushing the Strikers in their last outing at the MCG on Tuesday. Sitting in middle of a log jam on 10 points, the Stars should be able to qualify for the finals by winning two of their remaining matches. They also boast a very healthy net run-rate (0.342) meaning three wins could secure them a top-two spot. 

The concern for the Stars is the injury to skipper Meg Lanning. The competition’s leading run-scorer missed their last match due to a hamstring injury and is no guaranteed starter in the next couple of matches. But the Stars will be buoyed by the fact that they managed to beat the Strikers even without their inspirational skipper. The return of Kristen Beams also gives them a significant boost as they face the three teams (Hurricanes, Scorchers and Heat) sitting on the same competition points as them in their run home.

Perth Scorchers

Couple of losses to the Sydney Sixers in their last two encounters have brought the Scorchers down towards middle of the field. Sitting on 10 points alongside the Stars and the Heat, the side from the west will benefit from the fact that all of their remaining four matches are at home. Winning two of those games gives them hope of securing a finals berth, but to be guaranteed they will want to win three out of the last four. 

The positive attitude of Katherine Brunt has had a real impact on the Scorchers in the recent times, but pace counterpart Anya Shrubsole probably needs to lift a bit while in the batting department, Perth need more out their middle order if they are to be a real threat to the competition. 

Brisbane Heat

Halfway through the season it seemed like the Heat were losing touch with the top four, but they've been spurred back into contention by winning two of their past three matches. Importantly, both of those wins came against teams ahead of them on the ladder, given them a much-needed confidence boost. 

The losses of both Deandra Dottin and Holly Ferling to injury have been monumental, but the form of Beth Mooney has stabilised their top order. On a positive note, they play all their remaining matches at home against the two bottom placed sides in the Strikes and Renegades. But with a poor net rate (-0.167) the reality is that they may just need three more wins to secure a spot in the finals. 

Sydney Thunder

The reigning champions are no means gone but need a strong finish if they are to feature in the semi-finals this season.  Not only have they lost three of their past four matches but the margins of defeat have been enormous, resulting in a big blow to their net run rate. 

Thunder need more from their international recruits Stafanie Taylor and Harmanpreet Kaur with the bat if they are to make a surge in the final four games. In the bowling department, Lauren Cheatle is still finding her feet after missing the first half of the tournament through illness this, while the ever economical Samantha Bates has also gone off track in recent times. 

Making this tougher, the Thunder face the top two teams this round before finishing with a double header against the Scorchers in Perth. While the task is not impossible, it is going to be extremely difficult for them to qualify. 

Adelaide Strikers

The Strikers are in a similar position to the Thunder and have not tasted victory since Boxing Day when Sophie Devine smashed a brilliant century. They have lost their past four matches and their batting has been far too reliant on Devine this season. 

They face the Stars and the Scorchers before finishing with a double header against the Heat in Brisbane. On the evidence of this season, they will need Devine - who missed two matches after returning to New Zealand for domestic duties and was suffering from a stomach illness upon her return to the Adelaide XI on Tuesday - to fire on all cylinders in each match to stand any chance. Their poor net-rate means the Strikers will need to win all their remaining matches or win three and hope all permutations and combinations favour them. 

Melbourne Renegades

There are a chance but perhaps more mathematically than realistically for the young Renegades squad. Their recent form perhaps doesn’t reflect their ladder position - they are unbeaten in 2017 - they have left it a little too late and will need a miracle to qualify. They'll have to win all their remaining matches and will need other results in their favour to stand a chance. Making their run home even tougher is the fact they have to face competition leaders Sydney Sixers twice.

They can take plenty of heart from the fact they beat arch-rivals the Melbourne Stars in both of their derby matches this season and they have unearthed a future superstar in Sophie Molineux, alongside some serious young talent in the likes of Maitlan Brown.