WBBL wrap: 'Canes snap streak on Wild Wednesday

Hurricanes stun Sixers in topsy-turvy affair

In a riveting match that continually see-sawed, Nicola Carey's brilliant unbeaten fifty and Belinda Vakarewa's new-ball spell set up Hobart's first ever win over the Sydney Sixers.

Chasing 135 for victory, Carey's 55no from 46 balls rescued Hobart from 4-22, before a late cameo from Chloe Tryon - who struck three huge sixes - helped steer the Hurricanes home with 10 balls to spare.

View the full scorecard HERE 

Earlier, Marizanne Kapp performed her own rescue act with the bat, helping the Sixers to 7-134 after they had been in all sorts at 5-30 and with captain Ellyse Perry sitting on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.

The loss of Perry looked a serious blow indeed when Hurricanes quick Belinda Vakarewa skittled the Sixers’ top order, removing Alyssa Healy (10), Hollie Armitage (2), Ashleigh Gardner (11) and Erin Burns (2) to have 4-9 from her opening three overs.

But Kapp performed the rescue mission – sharing in a 56-run stand with Lauren Smith (23) – before launching late to finish unbeaten on 55 from 40.

She was assisted by a late cameo from fellow Protea Dane van Niekerk, who came in at No.9 rather than her usual place at No.5 – likely due to the stitches in her left hand, cut while slicing an avocado at the weekend.

But if the injury caused van Niekerk any pain, it didn’t show when she dispatched the fourth delivery she faced over the boundary, finishing on 17no from nine balls.

Kapp was quickly back in the action, removing Hobart openers Erin Fazackerley (12) and Meg Phillips (0) in the space of five balls.

England captain Heather Knight (4) was then trapped lbw by Stella Campbell before Kapp’s third, the wicket of Fran Wilson (5), left the Hurricanes in all sorts at 4-22.

But Carey steadied, aided by the efforts of first Corinne Hall (28), then Chloe Tryon, who cleared the boundary three times to snap what had been a six-match losing streak for the Hurricanes.

Sophie's Devine form continued in Wollongong

Sophie Devine’s seemingly unstoppable run of form has continued, with the Strikers star hitting her fifth-consecutive half-century to lead her team to a six-wicket win over the Sydney Thunder.

View the full scorecard HERE

After restricting the Thunder to 4-112, Devine timed her chase to perfection to finish unbeaten on 62 from 58 deliveries as the Strikers cruised home with five deliveries to spare.

Devine’s fifth-straight half-century is unprecedented in the WBBL and she now sits second on the runs table behind Heat star Beth Mooney, having struck 474 at 79.

Her knock was well backed up by fellow opener Suzie Bates (22) and while the Thunder hit back to remove Tahlia McGrath (8), Bridget Patterson (5) and Lauren Winfield (5) cheaply, they had no answers for the dominant Devine.

Earlier, the Thunder promoted Alex Blackwell to the top of the order but she was bowled by Sarah Coyte for nine, with Rachael Haynes (33no), Rachael Priest (31) and Tahlia Wilson (26) the only batters to reach double figures.

Megan Schutt’s miserly season continued as she leaked just 15 runs from her four overs despite going wicketless, while Devine (1-21), McGrath (1-20), Coyte (1-29) and Amanda-Jade Wellington (1-10) shared the spoils.

Scorchers jump back into the top four

Half-centuries to Meg Lanning and Amy Jones have steered the Perth Scorchers to an emphatic nine-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars.

Batting first, a fifty to Elyse Villani and quickfire cameos from South Africans Lizelle Lee and Mignon du Preez took the Stars to 6-149, but the target failed to trouble the Scorchers who cruised home with five balls to spare.

View the full scorecard HERE

Lanning took her time getting going but was unstoppable once she found her groove, striking an unbeaten 68 from 59 deliveries, while Jones looked at ease in a 55-ball 70– only holing out with three runs required -as the pair paced the chase to perfection.

It continued a tough season for the Stars, who have just one win from 10 matches, while the Scorchers’ win moved them into the top four.

Earlier, Lee made a positive start for the Stats before being dismissed in bizarre circumstances.

The big-hitting South African had reached 24 from 26 balls when she swung hard at a head-high full toss from Sam Betts, holing out to Heather Graham on the boundary.

Assuming it was a no ball, the Scorchers did not even celebrate; both they and Lee left staggered when the umpire declared the Stars opener out.

Du Preez continued her explosive form with a 22-ball 38, while Villani – who had failed to pass single digits in her last three innings – worked through a scratchy start to bring up her third half-century of the season, before her 56-ball innings came to an end shortly after on 59.

Jonassen stars as Heat stay on top

Allrounder Jess Jonassen starred with bat and ball as the Brisbane Heat held off the Melbourne Renegades by six runs at Junction Oval.

Jonassen’s brilliant unbeaten 63 boosted the Heat, who at one point were 5-98 with five overs remaining, to 5-153 before a brilliant bowling display held off the gallant hosts.

View the full scorecard HERE

Renegades opener Sophie Molineux (13) fell early in the chase but opening partner Danni Wyatt produced a whirlwind knock, clearing the rope from the first delivery she faced.

The English star had the Renegades flying at 1-68 after seven overs, only to come unstuck going after yet another boundary in the eighth, caught at deep mid-wicket by Delissa Kimmince from the bowling of leg-spinner Amelia Kerr having struck 40 runs from just 18 deliveries.

The Heat then flexed the strength of their bowling attack to continually make inroads into the Renegades line-up.

Import Tammy Beaumont (12), Josie Dooley (12) and captain Jess Duffin (15) all failed to go on with starts, while Sunday’s last-ball hero Courtney Webb was run out without facing a ball.

A spirited finish from Maitlan Brown (22no) took the game into the final over but was not enough to steal a win, as the Renegades finished their overs on 9-147.

Kerr was brilliantly economical, taking 1-17 from her four as well as capturing the key wicket of Wyatt, while Kimmince (1-25) and Jonassen (1-27) also impressed. 

Sent in, Maddy Green (32) was the early aggressor for the Heat, before off-spinner Molly Strano castled Beth Mooney – the tournament’s leading run-scorer – for nine.

Just 57 runs were scored from the first 10 overs, but Jonassen swung the momentum firmly back in Brisbane’s favour with a stunning unbeaten 63 from 29 deliveries.

The allrounder, who has been thriving at No.4 this season, added 37 runs from the final 12 deliveries she faced.

To come this weekend:

Hello, Hobart! The WBBL Weekend Festival action heads to Blundstone Arena, starting with a showdown between the Hurricanes and Heat on Friday night!

The Hurricanes back it up on Saturday night against the Strikers (7.10pm AEDT), while on Sunday, the Thunder meet the Strikers (10am AEDT).

You can watch the Hobart action on 7mate, Fox Cricket, Kayo and the CA Live app, while Thunder v Strikers will be available to live stream via the cricket.com.au match centre, Kayo or the WBBL Facebook page.

Elsewhere, the Scorchers play the Sixers in back-to-back matches at Lilac Hill on Saturday and Sunday (10am AWST), while the Renegades and Stars meet in a Melbourne Derby in Ballarat on Saturday (2pm AEDT). 

The Lilac Hill and Ballarat games will be available to watch via a free live stream 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!