So that is it from this thrilling semi-final, the defending champions have been knocked out of the competition. It will be Melbourne vs Syndey in the final as the Stars will take on Thunder. The final will be played on Saturday, November 28th. That game will begin at 1910 local (0810 GMT). We hope to see you for that one. Till then, goodbye and cheers!
For her brilliant performance, Hannah Darlington is awarded as the Player of the Match. She starts by saying that this does not feel real and it is the best way to get this done, at the death with the ball. Adds that she loves situations like these. Feels that this was a special performance by this team. Says that young cricketers play fearless cricket and they are all friends out on the pitch.
Earlier in the evening, after being put into bat, Sydney Thunder Women posted 143 on the board on the back of a solid start from Tammy Beaumont and an anchoring unbeaten 48 from skipper, Rachel Haynes. Nadine de Kerk was the pick of the bowlers for Brisbane Heat Women as she finished with 2/11 from her 3. At the halfway mark, it looked like they were 15 runs short but in the end, it was enough for the side from Sydney to book their place in the final.
What a fantastic bowling display from Sydney Thunder Women. Take a bow, Hannah Darlington. Her back-to-back wickets in the 18th over completely shifted momentum and set them up for a thrilling win. She was the star with the ball, finishing with 3/19 from her 3. Sammy Jo Johnson finished with 2. Though Samantha Bates was expensive, she managed to scalp 2 herself including the massive wicket of Laura Harris.
Laura Harris completely changed the tide of the game with her blistering knock and it looked like Heat were well on their way to yet another final. But a series of panicking run outs shifted the momentum and when Laura Harris was dismissed, the defending champions just lost their way and succumbed to a 12 run loss.
Chasing 144, Brisbane Heat Women did not get off to a good start as they lost both their openers inside the Powerplay. Nadine de Klerk and skipper, Jess Jonassen steadied the ship with a solid 46-run stand before they lost both the set batters in quick successions. The match was tilting towards Thunder but the Heat still had a lot of batting to come.
Wow! What a defense from Sydney Thunder! They have knocked out the defending champions in dramatic style and have thundered into the final. No three-peat for Brisbane Heat Woman!
18.3
W
OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! THAT'S THAT! What a fightback this has been by Thunder! Wonderful comeback from the team in Green! A slower good length ball on off, Kimmince dances down the track looking to go big but she does not time this one well and hits it straight back to Jo Johnson who takes a dolly. SYDNEY THUNDER WIN BY 12 RUNS AND MAKE IT TO THE FINALS!
18.2
1
A full ball on off, Hancock pushes this to mid-wicket for a single.
18.1
.
On off, Hancock pushes it back to the bowler.
In over# 1
1
0
0W
0W
0
0
Hannah Darlington 19/3(3)
17.6
1
A brillaint over by Hannah comes to an end. Just a single run and two wickets off this one. This is stroked to long off by Nicola for a single. 14 needed in 12 balls.
17.5
.
No hat-trick for Darlington! A good length ball on off, Hancock is solid in her defense.
Nicola Hancock is the last batter. She walks out to face the hat-trick ball.
17.4
W
OUT! TIMBER! Darlington is on a hat-trick! What a brilliant over this has been! Thunder just need a single wicket now to win this game! A cross-seam delivery on off, Prestwidge looks to push this for a single but she misses and the ball goes onto hit the stumps. Brilliant bowling by Darlington! 15 needed off 14 balls now.
Georgia Prestwidge is the new batter out in the middle.
17.3
W
OUT! TIMBER! Darlington has done it once again! She has delivered time and time again and she does it again! What an over so far for Thunder! 2 dots and a wicket! A full length delivery on off, Knott strides forward and looks to push it away but misses. The ball does not though and goes onto hit the off stump. A run a ball required now. 15 needed off 15.
17.2
.
Another dot! A slower ball on leg, Knott looks to tuck this one away but she misses it.
17.1
.
On off, punched towards mid off. Knott looks for the single but Delissa sends her back.
Delissa Kimmence is the new batter out in the middle.