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ST-W vs HB-W Highlights: Athapaththu and Litchfield Star As Thunder Topple Hurricanes In WBBL 2024 Knockout

Jatin

Sydney Thunder Women defeated Hobart Hurricanes Women by 6 wickets [Source: @ThunderBBL/x.com]Sydney Thunder Women defeated Hobart Hurricanes Women by 6 wickets [Source: @ThunderBBL/x.com]

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Sydney Thunder Women (ST-W) cruised past Hobart Hurricanes Women (HB-W) with a six-wicket win in the Knockout of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024 at Drummoyne Oval, Sydney, on Wednesday. The win eliminated Hobart and booked Thunder a spot in the Challenger against Brisbane Heat Women, where they’ll fight for a place in the final.

Here’s the timeline of how ST-W vs HB-W WBBL 2024 Knockout panned out in Sydney-

ST-W vs HB-W Highlights: Hurricanes’ Top Order Falters

The Hobart Hurricanes Women had a dismal start after electing to bat. Things went south early when Ruth Johnston fell to Shabnim Ismail in a freak dismissal for just five runs in the third over. It was clear the Hurricanes were struggling to find their rhythm, managing only 14 runs during the Powerplay.

Nicola Carey didn’t last long either, cleaned up by Chamari Athapaththu in her very first over for a solitary run. Lizelle Lee, one of the Hurricanes’ key players, couldn’t find her flow and scratched her way to 23 off 26 balls before being bowled in the seventh over.

By the time Heather Graham joined Elyse Villani at the crease, the Hobart Hurricanes were in deep water. But Graham’s cameo of 10 runs didn’t last long as Athapaththu struck again right before the drinks break, leaving Hobart reeling at 47/4 after 10 overs.


ST-W vs HB-W Highlights: Elyse Villani Fights Alone With a Fifty

After the drinks break, captain Elyse Villani led from the front and started rebuilding with Suzie Bates. The pair kept the scoreboard ticking. Villani looked in decent touch as she kept finding odd boundaries. As they settled in, the Hurricanes took the Power Surge in the 16th over, adding a crucial 23 runs to the total and bringing some much-needed momentum.

The duo stitched together a gritty 54-run stand before Bates fell to Peschel for 17 in the 18th over. Villani, however, stayed in the fight. She brought up a well-deserved fifty in just 40 balls and kept going strong until the end. Thanks to her composed knock of 53 not out off 42 balls, the Hurricanes managed to post a respectable 126/6 on the board.

ST-W vs HB-W Highlights: Voll Falls Early But Athapaththu Steadies Things

Sydney Thunder’s chase started in the worst way possible. Georgia Voll was sent back for a duck on just the second ball.

The pressure was on, but Chamari Athapaththu and Tahlia Wilson tried to bring things back on track by rotating the strike and sneaking in a few boundaries.

However, just when the two settled at the crease, Wilson fell for 14 in the sixth over. Chamari then joined forces with captain Phoebe Litchfield, and the two built a partnership to keep the chase alive. Chamari’s effort ended on 31 when she was dismissed in the 12th over, leaving Sydney Thunder Women at 64/3.


ST-W vs HB-W Highlights: Litchfield Takes Control And Learoyd Steps Up

Phoebe Litchfield played the anchor role perfectly, keeping one end secure and ticking the scoreboard over. She found the odd boundary and kept the Thunder in the game.

Anika Learoyd, who came in next, started slowly but made up for it when it mattered. During the Power Surge, she smashed a couple of boundaries to ease the pressure.

Litchfield looked set for a half-century, but her innings ended at 46 off 36 balls, just when the Thunder were closing in on victory. Learoyd stayed calm under pressure, finishing unbeaten on 23. Georgia Adams wrapped it up with a boundary, securing the win and sending the Thunder to the Challenger.