SS-W vs BH-W

Shikha Pandey: I guess, it swung under the lights more, both of us, even Han it swung for her. All in all, everybody contributed. We knew that, we had to take the wickets with the new ball, that's what we did. Initially I thought, it played well for us, it became easier as the ball got older, but the bowlers kept them under pressure. We had a good session with the bowling coach, we talked about the plans. First year that I came down, I actually got trained with Brisbane Heat girls, I know the people here and it helps a lot. The group gives the clarity, sense of being valuable feels great.

Jess Jonassen is the Player of the Match! Here's what she has to say: Any team that's been able to defend 140 is great, credit to the bowlers. We needed to take the wickets early, we were well below on the par score  and we were consistent throughout. We have to make it enough, one thing we're proud of ourselves, the ability to scrape and fight, defend every single run. The girls did that, today probably saved 20 runs on the field. All of them to be fair, Grace Parsons was brilliant, she's had a positive starts to the season, she's getting the results she's wanted. Worked on my plans for over 12 months, has been able to execute it and proud of myself. I am happy to chip in when I can with the bat.

Brisbane Heat beat Sydney Sixers by 12 runs

Sydney Sixers--127/8 (20 overs)
Sarah Bryce 30 (26) | Jess Jonassen 3/24 (4)
Grace Harris 39 (26) | Amelia Kerr 4/23 (4)

Brisbane Heat were bang on from the word go in the second innings as Shikha Pandey and Nicola Hancock sent the top-order back to the pavilion within the powerplay. One-box ticked.

Following that collapse, Sixers needed to build a partnership to chase down a below-par target of 139 runs, although, they were not able to resurrect their batting from that collapse with wickets falling at regular intervals and required rate kept climbing up and there was no coming back in the game for them. Heat kept tightening their hold on the game even as few boundaries here and there did come but not enough to affect the course of the game.

At one point around 11th over, it seemed that Sixers were willing to activate Power Surge from the successive over onwards with Armitage and Bryce in the middle, looking a tad settled. But it was not to be as Hollie Armitage walked down the wicket, got stumped and trudged back to the pavilion. This could have been the only turning point in the game. Following these three 30-run partnerships were witnessed, however, not at the pace needed to win the game.

For Brisbane Heat, Jess Jonassen stood out in the second innings, picking 3 wickets at an economy of 6 runs per over. Along with Jess, Shikha Pandey and Nicola Hancock bagged two wickets apiece to snatch the game away from Sixers.

Not to forget, the crucial contributions from Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne at the start of the first innings to provide a solid start to Brisbane Heat. However, the ensuing batters were not able to capitalise on that as well as the team would have thought. Amelia Kerr (4/23) and co ran through the remaining batters with Heat finishing at a score of 139 runs which proved sufficient with the kind of bowling and fielding performance that followed in the second half of the game.

19.6 Jess Jonassen to Courtney Sippel, HEAT HOLD ON TO THEIR NERVE! Heat with an all-round performance here, they put on a show with the ball and rattled Sixers early and now won the game handsomely by 12 runs! Full on the leg-stump, Sippel uses her feet and turned it to long-on for one.

19.4 Jess Jonassen to Sophie Ecclestone, OH! Goes just over the fielder at backward point, fielder leaps to her left but might've got the fingertips. Length delivery outside the off-stump, Ecclestone carved it away for a couple.

19.2 Jess Jonassen to Caoimhe Bray, OUT! SPOONED IT STRAIGHT UP AND TAKEN! Jonassen with a wicket, Bray departs after an impressive cameo. Length delivery outside the off-stump, Bray reaches and slices it straight up. Rodrigues settles under it at deep covers and pouches it.

Caoimhe Bray c Jemimah Rodrigues b Jess Jonassen 15 (10b, 1x4, 1x6)

19.1 Jess Jonassen to Caoimhe Bray, floated a full delivery outside the off-stump. Bray reaches to drive, but mistimes it back to the bowler.

18.6 Shikha Pandey to Caoimhe Bray, OH! Yorker length on the leg-stump, Bray backs away to drive, gets an inside edge to short fine-leg. Fielder dives and stops it.

18.5 Shikha Pandey to Caoimhe Bray, SIX! BANG! Flat hit from Bray, powerful strike. Length delivery outside the off-stump, Bray reaches and smokes it over deep covers for another maximum. Sixers are still in it?