WBBL finals weekend headed to Brisbane's AB Field

The first standalone Rebel WBBL season will culminate in a Finals Festival Weekend of cricket at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field.

Defending champions Brisbane Heat earned the right to host both semi-finals and the final after finishing atop the WBBL|05 table, thanks to a net run rate that was 0.122 ahead of second-ranked Adelaide Strikers.

WBBL Finals: Allan Border Field

First semi-final: Strikers v Scorchers, Saturday 10.10am (11.10am AEDT)

Second semi-final: Heat v Renegades, Saturday 1.50pm (2.50pm AEDT)

Final: SF1 v SF2, Sunday 1.40pm (2.40pm AEDT)

The Heat will take on the Melbourne Renegades in the second semi-final next Saturday, December 7, at 1.50pm local time (2.50pm AEDT).

The other semi-final will see the Strikers take on the Perth Scorchers at 10.10am local time (11.10am AEDT).

The winners of the semi-finals will then meet in the WBBL|05 decider, to be played on Sunday at 1.40pm local (2.40pm AEDT).

All matches will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket, the Seven Network and Kayo, with coverage on ABC Radio.

Tickets for the semi-finals will be available from Monday 2 December at 2pm AEST, with adults $10, concession $5 and children free.

For those wanting to catch all the action, weekend passes will be available for $15 for adults and $7.50 for concessions.

The Heat finished the regular season with 10 wins from 14 matches, reward for a nomadic home-and-away season that saw them play just three matches at AB Field.

The form of Beth Mooney has been critical, with the star Australian opener sitting second on the league runs table – behind Strikers star Sophie Devine – with 672 runs at 74.66.

"We’re pumped … I think everyone is really happy to be going to AB Field, it’s a good batting wicket, it’s a great atmosphere there and hopefully we can fill the grandstand and the hill," Mooney said on Sunday.

The Strikers’ rise to second spot has been a remarkable one after the club finished sixth last season.

It’s a strong turnaround for new coach Luke Williams, who came on board this season.

The Scorchers are back in the finals for the first time since WBBL|03 – and captain Meg Lanning will appear in the playoffs for the first time – while the Renegades will hope to take the next step after losing to the Sixers in the semi-finals last year in a super over thriller.

While this is the first standalone season, it is the second time the WBBL finals have been played separately from the KFC BBL, after last year’s remarkable semis and final at Drummoyne Oval that saw the Heat topple the Sixers in a sold-out decider.

Visit http://bigbash.com.au for full finals details.