Kiwis In WBBL04: Merry Christmas From WBBL
Busy times in the Women's Big Bash League with games coming every day around Christmas Day and that means that the best day to run through the latest performances, is Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to you all and we've finally been graced with a few dominant performances from our kiwi wahine in WBBL, that we've come to expect in nearly all the previous seasons.
We start with Hayley Jensen and her Perth Scorchers, who played the first game since the last review (18th). Perth defeated Hobart Hurricanes in a Super Over, after Jensen took 1w @ 10rpo from her 4 overs as Hobart reached 173/7 and with Jensen chiming in with 5 off 4 batting #7, this was a low key crucial contribution; any lower order runs in a tied game are crucial.
Unfortunately Jensen didn't play in the Scorchers other games, which was a bummer as she missed out on playing vs Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu (22nd and 23rd). Melbourne Renegades won the first game, with 2w @ 6rpo in 2ov from Lea Tahuhu helping to restrict the Scorchers to just 122/6 in their 20 overs. Satterthwaite then led from the front with 26 off 25 to steer the Renegades to victory, chasing their target down in 17.1 overs.
Tahuhu then went without a wicket in the second game vs Perth, bowling 4ov @ 8.25rpo as Perth again set a total. Their batters dominated with 172/2 and Satterthwaite made another solid contribution with 34* off 23, although it wasn't quite enough as Satterthwaite and the Renegades were stranded on 157/6 from their 20 overs.
Overall, Tahuhu has had a solid WBBL04 thus far without being overly spectacular. With 5w in six games @ 24avg/7.27rpo, isn't quite among the best bowlers but given Tahuhu's up and down T20 form this year, this is a decent return. As for Satterthwaite, I've harped on about her struggles for the White Ferns and for the Renegades in the first few games of WBBL04, but Satterthwaite has now found a nice little nek level; scores of 38, 26 and 34* in her last three games.
Those scores came after three games in which Satterthwaite couldn't pass 10 runs. While it's great to see Satterthwaite started to contribute, especially as skipper of the Renegades, averaging 23 with a strike-rate of 103.60 isn't going to lead the Renegades to too many victories. Take one look around WBBL and the best players need to legit dominating with bat or ball and while Satterthwaite is capable of that, she's not quite there yet.
Rachel Priest has been doing her job for Sydney Thunder, putting up scores of 40 (off 27) and 22 (11) in two wins for the Thunder over Hobart Hurricanes. Priest got the Thunder off to a hot start in chasing down Hobart's 153/9 and then backed it up in another run chase as the Thunder cruised to Hobart's 135 all out; both games saw the Thunder reach their target in the 17th over.
Not wanted by the White Ferns, Priest has had a decent WBBL04 and is 2nd behind Sophie Devine in kiwi run-scoring. Priest has 181 runs @ 31.16avg but her strike-rate of 141.66 is the key stat here as she's getting the Thunder rolling at the top of the order. While Priest only has one 50+ score, she has two 40+ knocks and the 22 in there as well and as long as they come with high strike-rates, Priest is doing her job.
Sara McGlashan's lone appearance came in Sydney Sixers' loss to Brisbane Heat. Brisbane put up 154/7 and were then able to roll the Sixers stacked batting line up for just 88 in 18 overs and McGlashan contributed 5 off 6.
Up against Melbourne Stars, Devine and Suzie Bates had a loss then a win with Adelaide Strikers and Devine was her dominant best in both games. First up, Devine score 46 off 36 to lead the Strikers to 144/7 with Bates run-out on 6 (7) and despite Devine taking 2w @ 8.50rpo in 4ov, the Stars were able to chase down their target in the final over.
Then came Devine's explosion, helping the Strikers get revenge in the second game. With Bates out for 12, Devine then went on to whack 95 off 60 balls (158.33sr) to take the Strikers up to 172/3 and Devine then took 5w @ 10.25rpo in 4ov to leave the Stars stranded on 153/9; despite Devine taking 5w, the Stars still weren't all out.
With Devine finding some form, Bates has hit a minor plateau after going 50+ twice earlier in the tournament. Bates' last three games have seen her hit 17, 6 and 12, which is all good when the other opener in Devine has put up scores of 23, 46 and 95. Bates has 181 runs @ 36.20avg/117.53sr and isn't using herself as a bowling option, meanwhile Devine is 2nd in runs with 305 runs @ 50.83avg/138.63sr along with 8w @ 20.62avg/9rpo.
As tremendous as Devine has been, WBBL04 is all about Ellyse Perry for Sydney Sixers who has 421 runs @ 140.33avg/137.58sr via two centuries and three 50+ scores. Perry has blown away WBBL04 with scores of 58, 102*, 74* 10, 72*, 103* and 2. Our kiwi WBBL wahine have been known to put up similar WBBL numbers with either bat or ball and while Perry's sitting on a run-scoring island, here's hoping Christmas brings some more runs/wickets for Aotearoa's big trio of Bates, Devine and Satterthwaite.
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Peace and love 27.