Brisbane heat Sydney Sixers 140 (Kerr 41, Hamilton 3-21, Jonassen 3-26)
Brisbane Heat defeated Sydney Sixers by five wickets but failed to steal the WBBL final hosting rights from Melbourne Renegades.
Heat, chasing the Sixers’ 140, reached their target in 17 overs for victory at Allan Border Field. But they must chase their target in 13.3 overs to eclipse the Renegades in net run rate and secure hosting rights for the final.
The Renegades will host the WBBL decider at the MCG next Sunday night after topping the table against the second-placed Heat.
Heat will host the Challenger on Friday night at Allan Border Field against the winner of Wednesday night’s elimination final between the third-placed Sydney Thunder and the fourth-placed Hobart Hurricanes at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney.
The fast wickets left the Heat 58 for 3 after seven overs and, encountering some miserable bowling from the Sixers, changed course to concentrate on winning the game, rather than chasing the net run rate target.
Georgia Redmayne scored 25 off 29 balls and the score remained tight as the Heat needed 46 runs off the last 42 balls.
Captain Jess Jonassen then called for the power surge and took advantage of the pitching restrictions by hitting three fours and a six as Caoimhe Bray conceded 20 runs. Jonassen’s explosion and a late burst from Laura Harris sealed the victory.
Thereafter, only Sarah Bryce, who smashed a six and a four four while making 28 off 19 balls, reached double figures.
Hamilton, the Heat’s 18-year-old rising star, was again excellent: he has now taken 10 wickets in his last three games, while captain Jonassen claimed 3 for 26.
