Rising star Charli Knott produced a crucial unbeaten 44 as the Heat opener WBBL|10 with a win over the defending champions
Match Report:
ScorecardHeat exact revenge on Strikers in WBBL final rematch
Brisbane Heat have turned the tables on reigning champions Adelaide Strikers, winning a rematch of last year's Weber WBBL final by four wickets to open the new season.
In the first game of the 10th edition of the WBBL, the Heat suffered some nervous moments in the chase at Adelaide Oval before reaching the Strikers' 5-133 with 12 balls to spare.
Charli Knott (44 not out) proved a steady hand for Brisbane when they lost 3-9 as they closed in on the target.
Bang. 💥
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 27, 2024
Charli Knott is hitting them well! #WBBL10 pic.twitter.com/qnoUkNWjrq
Australian star Megan Schutt claimed two quick wickets to give Adelaide a sniff of a miracle victory.
But Knott, 21, closed out the win with a lofted drive for two runs to be named player of the match.
Adelaide, who are gunning for a third-straight title, never got going with the bat on their home ground despite an unbeaten 51 from captain Tahlia McGrath.
In her first game for the Heat, Indian quick Shikha Pandey took 2-14 from her four overs, including the key wicket of Strikers opener Laura Wolvaardt.
The match was the first of three games to take place on the opening day of the tournament on Sunday.
In a double-header at the Adelaide Oval, the Melbourne Renegades will later battle the Sydney Sixers.
That's 100 WBBL wickets for Nicola Hancock! #WBBL10 pic.twitter.com/JXY56eXfbQ
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 27, 2024
To finish off the day, Perth Scorchers will host the Melbourne Stars at the WACA Ground.
Wins assume extra significance this year after the tournament was reduced from 14 games to 10.
Weber WBBL|10 standings
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | NRR | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
REN
|
10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.527 | 0 | 14 |
|
2
HEA
|
10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.384 | 0 | 14 |
|
3
THU
|
10 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | -0.002 | 0 | 13 |
|
4
HUR
|
10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.189 | 0 | 10 |
|
5
SCO
|
10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | -0.171 | 0 | 9 |
|
6
SIX
|
10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | -0.477 | 0 | 8 |
|
7
STR
|
10 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | -0.357 | 0 | 7 |
|
8
STA
|
10 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | -0.205 | 0 | 5 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points