Sophie Ecclestone hit the final ball of the chase for four, with four needed, as Adelaide Strikers beat Hobart Hurricanes by four wickets at Bellerive Oval, spoiling Nicola Carey’s unbeaten 66 and condemning the Hurricanes to a fifth straight WBBL defeat.
Hobart, Australia: Hobart’s winless start to WBBL|12 now stretches to five matches, and the Hurricanes still have no points. This one hurt more than most, because Carey had carried them to a competitive total and the Strikers needed the very last delivery to catch it.
Carey carries a quiet innings
The Hurricanes were 84 for 3 when the late surge began, and finished on 138 for 5 after taking 54 runs from the last five overs. Carey was unbeaten on 66 off 53 balls, and no other batter reached 20. Lizelle Lee made 19 off 18 before Ecclestone trapped her lbw, Rachel Trenaman fell for 9 to a return catch, and Chamari Athapaththu was retired out after a slow 10 off 26 balls.
A chase that stalled and then sprinted
The Strikers’ openers, Maia Bouchier and Emma de Broughe, gave the chase a fast start. Bouchier made 26 off 19 and de Broughe top-scored with 41 off 37, but the innings then slowed, with only 27 runs coming between the 10th and 15th overs. Adelaide needed 12 from the final six balls, with Molly Strano bowling for Hobart.
Strano removed Laura Wolvaardt, who had made 27 off 27, with the second ball of the over, and the Strikers still needed 10. A boundary from Ecclestone and two singles, the second from Amanda-Jade Wellington, cut that to four off the last delivery. Ecclestone drove it over mid-off for the winning runs and finished on 9 not out. Strano took 2 for 30, while Ecclestone had also taken 1 for 37 with the ball.
Hobart’s slide continues
The win lifts Adelaide to 2-2 from four matches. Hobart’s defeats include a last-ball loss to Melbourne Renegades decided by a no-ball call and a four-wicket loss to Brisbane Heat. The Strikers face Perth Scorchers on 14 November, while the Hurricanes host Brisbane Heat in Hobart on the same day.
Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers, WBBL|12, Match 17, Bellerive Oval, 10 November
Hobart Hurricanes: 138/5 (20 overs) – Nicola Carey 66* (53), Lizelle Lee 19 (18); Molly Strano 2/30, Sophie Ecclestone 1/37
Adelaide Strikers: 139/6 (20 overs) – Emma de Broughe 41 (37), Laura Wolvaardt 27 (27), Maia Bouchier 26 (19), Sophie Ecclestone 9*
Result: Adelaide Strikers won by four wickets (off the last ball)
