#KiwiWBBL05: Aotearoa Strikers vs Aotearoa Heat
The two teams with two kiwis sit 1st and 2nd on the WBBL05 ladder, but this is kinda still the Sophie Devine show. Along with Suzie Bates, Devine and the Adelaide Strikers snared back to back wins over Melbourne Stars (currently in last spot) in their two most recent games and are poised in 2nd. The Strikers are poised to make a move as they have played nine games, while Brisbane Heat are in 1st having played 10 games and are on a five-win streak via solid performances from their younger kiwis Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr.
Kerr hasn't quite kicked on from her explosion in the first game where she took 3 of her 6 wickets in one game. Since then, Kerr has gone without a wicket in six of her last nine games with 6w @ 38.83avg/6.59rpo overall. Kerr did manage a nice contribution over the weekend as the Heat grabbed wins over Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers, with Kerr whacking 21 @ 131.25sr batting #8 to bump the Heat's target up over 100 in their win over Sydney Thunder.
There was also a brief flicker of runs from Maddy Green as she jacked up 56 @ 169.69sr in a big win over Melbourne Stars mid-week last week. The Stars are last and have on bowler in the top-20 wicket-takers, but a move to open the innings for Green may see Green hit a nek level as the tournament reaches a climax. Green is averaging 19/112.50sr and has two scores over 30 in her 9 innings, so there isn't much else to celebrate other than highlighting that these two youngsters are part of a winning team and are chipping in when possible.
Brisbane have three bowlers in top-10 for wickets, or three bowlers in the top-six to be fair. There is also Beth Mooney, who is the leading run-scorer of WBBL05 and has six 50+ scores in her 10inns, all of which eases the pressure and requirement for contributions from Kerr and Green.
It's the opposite for Devine and Bates with their Adelaide Strikers as Devine is 3rd in runs and 2nd in wickets, which is bonkers. The Strikers also bullied Melbourne Stars in their last two games, grabbing two wins after playing these two games on consecutive weekends and this saw Devine go large in consecutive games; 85* and 2w, 77* and 3w.
Devine has four-straight scores over 50, as well as a 1+ wickets in all but one of her 9inns bowled. Not only is Devine putting up big numbers, she is doing so with lovely efficiency as her overall strike-rate of 134.20 is the best of the top-three run-scorers, while her economy rate of 6.25rpo isn't quite as good as the other top-three bowlers, it is better than everyone else in the top-10 though.
Suzie Bates hasn't quite hit those same heights, as a complimentary piece alongside Devine though, Bates has played her role nicely. Bates is 16th in runs, averaging 24.87 with a rather low strike-rate of 100.50 - none of which is overly impressive. What Bates has done though, is steadily chime in, supporting Devine at the top of the order and releasing Devine to do what she does best. Bates has hit double-figures in each of her last 5inns, with scores of 55*, 27, 23, 36 and 18 which means Bates is seeing out the first few overs alongside Devine and playing her role.
There is another round of games on Wednesday, with Brisbane coming up against Melbourne Renegades (4th) and Adelaide playing Sydney Thunder (6th). As for the other kiwis, there's not a whole lot happening...
Rachel Priest (Sydney Thunder)
Last 3inns: 0, 16, 13.
Overall: 186 runs @ 20.66avg/125.67sr.
Katey Martin (Melbourne Stars)
Last 3inns: 7, 7*, 13.
Overall: 74 runs @ 10.57avg/104.22sr.
Lea Tahuhu (Melbourne Renegades)
Last 3inns: 0w, 1w, 2w.
Overall: 7w @ 28.42avg/5.85rpo.
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Peace and love 27.