That brings the curtains on our live coverage of this Women's Big Bash League game! For now, it's Arjun Bhalla taking your leave on behalf of my co-commentator, Akshay Bhide, alongside our Scorer/Analyst, Manish Bishnoi.
See you soon as we bring you tomorrow's Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat Clash!
Player of the Match: Lizelle Lee
3:30 PM IST and 9:00 PM Local Time: The Hobart Hurricanes humbled the Adelaide Strikers by 28 runs, despite the fireworks from Smriti Mandhana and Laura Wolvaardt! In the end, the Hurricanes, who posted a monstrous score of 191 runs, won this run-fest by 28 runs.
Chasing 192 runs, the Strikers had a beautiful start to the innings, with Mandhana going after the spinners from the word go. The Indian superstar was timing the ball like a dream. She got off the blocks sharply, stitching a fiery opening stand with Katie Mack. The duo got 41 for no loss in the powerplay before they completed their 50-run stand in the 5th over.
SM completed her fifty off just 30 balls in the seventh over. However, the opener was soon sent back to the hut on 51. Mack tried continuing but couldn’t up the ante as she was removed on 14 after facing 20 balls.
Putting salt on the wounds, the Strikers lost their highest run-scorer of the season, aka Captain McGrath, soon on 4. They didn't lose any other wicket after that, but the required run rate kept climbing up.
Wolvaardt and Bridget Patterson shared an unbeaten stand of 70 runs. However, they were finding it tough to smash boundaries and rather hitting the ball hard for just singles or doubles. The South African international did start smashing the ball for boundaries, but it was too late then.
With this victory, the Hobart Hurricanes have climbed their way up to the first place. Meanwhile, the Strikers have made the matter even worse for them.
OVER 20
Adelaide Strikers Women
163/3
Laura Wolvaardt
63(40)
Bridget Patterson
23(20)
Molly Strano
1-37(4.0)
19.6 M Strano to L Wolvaardt
4 Wolvaardt goes again and cracks another boundary to sum up the innings. 21 runs off the last over, but it is Hobart Hurricanes who win this runfest by 28 runs. Fuller length ball outside off, Wolvaardt gets on her knees and then slog sweeps it through the gap between deep mid wicket and long-on for her fourth boundary of the over.
19.5 M Strano to L Wolvaardt
4 Wolvaardt goes deep in the crease and makes this length delivery short. She waits for the ball on her back foot and pulls it away. Works it past deep mid wicket for a boundary.
19.4 M Strano to L Wolvaardt
4 FOUR!!! Short from Strano on the stumps, Wolvaardt was expecting this length as she sits back and pulls it hard right in the gap between deep mid wicket and long on for a boundary. Nice placement.
Laura Wolvaardt brings her fifty with a maximum. Gets there in 37 balls.