WBBL wrap: Upsets rock finals contenders

Strikers edge out Hurricanes in Hobart thriller

The Adelaide Strikers have virtually sealed a Rebel WBBL finals berth after notching a gripping two-run win over the Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena.

Requiring five to win or four to force a super over off the last ball and reel in the Strikers' 3-143, Hurricanes No.9 Tayla Vlaeminck could only manage to work death-over specialist Sarah Coyte to deep midwicket for two, leaving the home side just short at 7-141.

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That the 'Canes got so close was due to South African powerhouse Chloe Tryon who cracked two sixes in her undefeated 44 off 22 balls.

With the asking rate pushing past 10-an-over, Tryon launched a savage counterattack but was left disappointed when she jogged a single off the penultimate ball instead of sprinting for two, which meant Vlaeminck was on strike to Coyte for the final salvo.

Captain Corrine Hall (25), Heather Knight (22) and Nicola Carey (22) all made solid contributions after the Hurricanes lost both openers in the powerplay while legspinner Amanda Wellington (3-23) was easily Adelaide's best bowler.

Earlier, Strikers captain Suzie Bates played her best knock of the season with a classy 64 off 54 deliveries to earn player-of-the-match honours.

Bates was the early aggressor in her 85-run opening-wicket stand with fellow New Zealander Sophie Devine.

Chasing her sixth straight 50, Devine uncharacteristically battled for timing and when she was castled by Belinda Vakarewa for 31, it was the gun Adelaide opener had scored 255 runs since previously being dismissed.

Tahlia McGrath chimed in with 22 not out for the Strikers who, after being 0-76 at the halfway stage, were well pegged back in the last 10 overs.

But with their strong bowling attack again getting the job done, it will now take something extraordinary for Adelaide to miss the finals.

Stars shock Renegades in Melbourne derby

Melbourne Stars have snapped a five-match WBBL losing streak after securing an impressive seven-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades at Eastern Oval in Ballarat.

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The Stars reeled in the Renegades' 3-165 with four balls to spare, thanks to a wonderful late flourish from veteran Erin Osborne (34 not out off 15 deliveries) on Saturday.

With 32 required off the last three overs, the Renegades were in the box seat before Osborne crunched 26 off her last nine balls, including a paddle sweep for four to raise the Stars' second victory of the season.

Denting the fifth-placed Renegades' finals hopes, Osborne capitalised on the excellent work at the top of the order by Lizelle Lee (62) and Mignon du Preez (41).

The South African duo put on 90 for the second wicket after captain Elyse Villani departed early to Leah Tahuhu (2-26).

The powerful Lee crunched three sixes in her 46-ball stay before being trapped lbw attempting to reverse sweep Georgia Wareham.

Earlier, Anna Lanning sparkled in her first WBBL game in two years, belting 73 off 49 balls to be awarded player-of-the-match honours despite the result.

The younger sister of Australian captain Meg, Lanning smashed two sixes and dominated her 74-run second-wicket union with Tammy Beaumont (39).

Lanning, who was making her Renegades debut, eventually succumbed to a magnificent outfield catch from Villani before Jess Duffin chipped in with a rapid-fire unbeaten 35 off 17 balls.

Scorchers smash Perry-less Sixers

Perth Scorchers strengthened their WBBL finals claims after walloping Sydney Sixers by 52 runs at Lilac Hill.

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Natalie Sciver scored 52 off 37 balls to help the Scorchers post 5-152 from their 20 overs.

Perth's bowlers then restricted the Sixers to 9-100 in reply, with Sciver taking 1-27 from her four overs to round out her player-of-the-match performance.

The landslide victory on Saturday allowed the Scorchers to leapfrog the Sixers into third position on the ladder, with the Sydney team losing three matches in a row for the first time in WBBL|01.

After Alyssa Healy fell to a superbly judged catch from Perth captain Meg Lanning off the fourth ball of their innings, the Sixers were never in the hunt as they slumped to their third successive defeat.

Clearly feeling the absence of superstar captain Ellyse Perry (shoulder injury), the Sixers crashed to 5-35 in the ninth over.

No.7 Lauren Smith produced a career-best and unbeaten 36 to help avert a complete whitewash but, led by Kim Garth (2-15), the damage was already done and no Sixers batter was able to replicate Sciver's knock.

The 27-year-old hit seven boundaries in her 37-ball dig before holing out in the last over.

Lanning (28) was stoic at the top before Heather Graham (25 not out) produced a late flurry.

To come on Sunday:

Adelaide Strikers back it up against the Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena on Sunday at 10am AEDT, while the Scorchers and Sixers meet once more at Lilac Hill (10am AWST, 1pm AEDT).

You can watch the action via free live streams on cricket.com.au, the CA Live app and the WBBL Facebook page, or tune in via Kayo. And if you're not near a screen, listen live on the ABC!