Bridget Patterson claimed Player of the Match honours for a devastating late blitz that wrestled control of the game the Strikers way, finishing unbeaten on 45 from just 26 deliveries.
Striding to the middle with the result well and truly in the balance, Patterson was the epitome of cool as she iced the game to ensure the Strikers qualified for their second consecutive WBBL Grand Final.
While Patterson was the contests brightest light, it was a complete team effort that produced the result, with Laura Wolvaardt playing a critical knock at the top of the order, Deandra Dottin blasting a trio of huge sixes to build momentum and Maddie Penna holding her nerve to hit the winning runs.
It was the same with ball in hand, as five Strikers all claimed wickets in the opening innings, led by the unstoppable Megan Schutt’s 3-26. Presented with the BKT Golden Arm pre-game, Schutt picked up where she left off in the final game of the regular season, a clash where she recorded the best bowling figures in the history of the tournament.
International batter Danielle Wyatt was Schutt’s first victim, falling in just the second over of the innings to have the bumper crowd on their feet early. Local hero Darcie Brown then lit up Georgia Redmayne’s stumps in the following over, filling the evening sky with roars of delight.
When Jemma Barsby then claimed the dangerous Grace Harris to have the scorecard reading 3-43, it felt as though the Strikers might need to start thinking about their method of travel to the airport the following morning.
A resounding rally then came from the Heat however, with Amelia Kerr and Laura Harris sending the ball to every corner of Karen Rolton Oval as they amassed 43 from 32 and 33 from 14 respectively.
Often trusted with late over duties this season, Dottin again stood up when needed most, taking 2-3 in the 19th over to restrict the visitors to 8-154 from their full allotment of overs.
As momentum shifted back and forth in the Strikers chase following the early losses of Katie Mack and skipper Tahlia McGrath, it was international stars Wolvaardt and Dottin who righted the ship in the middle overs. The pair put on runs in rapid time to turn the game in a partnership highlighted by three mammoth sixes to Dottin.
When both batters fell after dragging the Strikers back into the game, Patterson took over with power and placement to craft a victory that came with just two balls remaining. The defining moment came on the final ball of the penultimate over, a delivery from Courtney Sippel that Patterson bludgeoned over backward square for six, bringing the ask down to nine runs from the final six deliveries.
Penna was the one to hit the winning runs, perfectly placing a cut shot that crashed into the fence right in front of the pavilion packed with screaming fans.
The Strikers now head to Sydney for a Final matchup against Sydney Sixers at North Sydney Oval. First ball is scheduled for 4.50pm ACDT and fans can tune in via Seven, Fox Cricket, Kayo and ABC Grandstand.
Match Report:
Scorecard