The Adelaide Strikers have clinched back-to-back Weber WBBL titles after downing the Brisbane Heat by three runs in a nail-biting WBBL Final at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
The Strikers join the Sydney Sixers (WBBL|02 and WBBL|03) and the Heat (WBBL|04 and WBBL|05) as only the third franchise to claim consecutive WBBL Championships after Saturday night’s thrilling decider.
Leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington iced the game in an electrifying final over in which the Heat required 13 runs to claim the title.
Player of the Final Wellington held her nerve and snared two clutch wickets to keep Brisbane at bay, backing up a brilliant spell earlier in the match which turned momentum in Adelaide’s favour.
The introduction of spinners Wellington and Jemma Barsby in the fifth and sixth overs respectively proved crucial during Brisbane’s chase of the Strikers’ seemingly modest total of 5-125.
Barsby earned Adelaide’s first wicket with her second delivery of the night in big-hitting opener Grace Harris for 15, before Wellington conceded just five runs through her opening two overs and lured Georgia Redmayne (22) into a simple catch taken by Tahlia McGrath at mid-wicket.
With the required run-rate climbing, captain McGrath (2-16) then struck two vital blows to begin the 13th over – skittling the stumps of both Mignon du Preez (13) and Laura Harris (0) in successive deliveries.
Pace ace Megan Schutt (2-30) chimed in with two late wickets to halt Brisbane’s hopes of a resurgence.
The Strikers, featuring in their fourth WBBL Final from the past five seasons, elected to bat first in front of 12,379 fans – the largest crowd for a standalone WBBL match in the club’s history.
A boundary-laden 66-run partnership shared between McGrath (38) and Laura Wolvaardt set the platform for the hosts after Team of the Tournament representative Katie Mack was dismissed cheaply in the second over by Nicola Hancock.
The duo combined for six boundaries in the space of 12 balls to quickly pile the pressure back on the visitors.
Wolvaardt again showed her class at the crease, becoming the fifth Striker to notch 1,500 WBBL runs for the club.
The Strikers struggled once McGrath was bowled for 38 while Wolvaardt (39) followed soon after - the home side managed just 29 runs from the last five overs to post a total of 5-125.
Brisbane cruised through the opening overs of the chase, navigating the first five overs without loss, before Adelaide’s spin sensations of Barsby and Wellington went to work en-route to the historic Championship win.
The result sealed an undefeated streak for Adelaide at home across both Karen Rolton Oval and Adelaide Oval.
Fans will have their chance to celebrate with the WBBL|09 Championship team at Fan Day on Sunday, 3 December between 2pm–4pm at Gawler Place Canopy, Rundle Mall.