Harris, Kerr blitz propels Heat into WBBL Challenger

Brisbane Heat will play Perth Scorchers for a spot in the Weber WBBL|09 final after cruising to a 44-run victory in the Eliminator over Sydney Thunder.

Grace Harris (45 off 22) and Amelia Kerr (48 off 31) laid a strong foundation for the Heat before the Thunder fought back with the ball to keep Brisbane to 8-169 at the WACA Ground.

The Heat then produced a disciplined bowling display led by Courtney Sippel (3-9) and Nicola Hancock (2-16) to tie down the Thunder's star batters and ultimately their total proved more than enough as Sydney were restricted to 9-125.

Brisbane will now meet the Scorchers in Wednesday's Challenger final, with the winner to meet the Strikers in the decider at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Newly crowned Player of the Tournament Chamari Athapaththu loomed as the key for the Thunder and she looked in ominous touch when she hit a pair off boundaries off Jess Jonassen's second over.

But Hancock, Sippel, Kerr and then Georgia Voll all combined to tie down the Thunder openers, keeping their run rate below six through the first seven overs.

That mounting pressure produced a mix-up that saw Tahlia Wilson (12 off 13) run out, then Sippel got the huge wicket of Athapaththu (41 off 40) out caught behind.

Kerr took a sharp return catch to send the dangerous Phoebe Litchfield on her way for three and when Marizanne Kapp holed out on two, the Thunder were in serious trouble at 4-66 needing 104 from 52 balls.

Heather Knight (25 off 17) and Anika Learoyd (21 off 18) added 31 runs for the fifth wicket but when the England skipper was caught in the deep off Hancock, the Thunder's hopes slipped away.

Earlier, Sydney won the bat flip but were caught on the hop as the Heat got off to a flier.

Harris was in a mood and went on the attack early – including hitting a quartet of fours off Sammy-Jo Johnson's first over – before she struck an enormous six off Lauren Smith's first delivery.

But the off-spinner immediately hit back, as Harris holed out for 45, ending a 58-run opening stand of which she had been the main contributor.

Opening partner Georgia Redmayne looked nowhere near as comfortable on the WACA surface, scoring 18 runs from 23 deliveries before she was caught behind off the bowling of Hannah Darlington (3-42).

Mignon du Preez (10 off 11) likewise struggled to adjust, but Kerr had no such problems, as she kept the run rate ticking over, hitting seven boundaries in a 32-ball 48.

The Heat had an imposing platform at 3-130 after 14 overs but scored just 39 runs off the final six as the Thunder fought their way back into the Eliminator.

Laura Harris (12 off 5) hit a six off the first ball she faced, but was trapped lbw shortly after and Charli Knott (11 off 16) got tied down.

A handful of late boundaries from Jess Jonassen (9 off 5) and Georgia Voll (8 off 3) helped the Heat to 8-169.

WBBL Finals

The Eliminator: Brisbane Heat beat Sydney Thunder by 44 runs

The Challenger: Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat | WACA Ground | November 29, 7.40pm AEDT (4.40pm AWST)

The Final: Adelaide Strikers v TBC | Adelaide Oval | December 2 at 7.10pm AEDT (6.40pm ACDT)

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