Right then, a thriller to end the league stage of WBBL 2025. We have our four finalists. Perth Scorchers will lock horns against Melbourne Stars in Knockout on Tuesday. The winner will face Sydney Sixers in the Challenger, which will be played on Thursday. The winner of Thursday's clash will take on Hobart Hurricanes in the grand finale, which will be played on Saturday. Do join us for the knockouts.
It's time for us to take your leave. This is Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of scorer Dushyant Madhukar Kumar. Until next time, cheers and good bye.
Ellyse Perry (Player of the Match): āIām still processing. Amazing contest. We expected that today and Bridget played a fantastic knock. It was really cool to get over the line. Respect to the Strikers for the way they played their cricket. But happy to get the win and qualify for the finals.
In this competition, it doesnāt matter who we play. Every side is a class. In my opinion, itās the hardest competition in the world. To get to the final and get another opportunity is a great feeling. Iām glad that it has happened and will be a great week.
Last couple of games at Sunday, the atmosphere has been brilliant. That shows where the womenās cricket is in the country. The atmosphere would have helped us in the final moments.
I guess just a bit of preparation. Hasnāt been jam-packed schedule. We will have some training before the do-or-die match to get into the final."
Player of the Match: Ellyse Perry
8:13 AM IST, 1:43 PM Local Time: Phew!!! Hold your breath, folks. We have just witnessed a thriller at the North Sydney Oval. Sydney Sixers Women beat Adelaide Strikers Women by a single run to make it to the finals of Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) 2025. The Sixers held their nerves in the final moments of the game to seal a thriller and knock the Strikers out of the competition. You can't get any better way to finish the league stage.
It was always going to be a daunting task to chase 174 in a virtual knockout fixture. Tammy Beaumont and Madeline Penna added 38 for the first wicket before the former fell on 23. It was another short stay for skipper Tahlia McGrath (4) at the crease. Penna scored 31 before getting cleaned up in the 11th over.
The Strikers kept falling behind the required run rate. Tabatha Saville (11) and Ellie Johnston (0) were dismissed on consecutive balls to dent the Strikersā progress. With 70 required from 30, Bridget Patterson and Amanda-Jade Wellington went berserk. They took the Power Surge and scored 30 runs in it.
The game went down the wire and the Strikers required 18 runs from the final over. Patterson started with a bang, scoring 14 runs in the first three balls. On the next, the batters picked up a bye. Ashleigh Gardner showed her experience by knocking over Wellington on 31 on the next ball. With three required from the final ball, Sophie Ecclestone got run out while completing the second as the Strikers fell agonizingly short by a run. Patterson's knock of 35-ball 65* resulted in vain as the Sixers sealed a thriller to book a place in the finals of WBBL 2025.
Earlier in the day, Ellyse Perry displayed a batting masterclass. After being asked to bat first, she along with Sophia Dunkley gave the Sixers a blazing start. Both played some fantastic shots and raced past their fifties. The Strikers looked clueless on the field as they failed to keep a check on the scoring rate.
Perry and Dunkley put 141 between them before the latter fell on 54 in the 16th over. There was no stopping Perry though as she brought up her hundred in just 65 balls. She scored a masterful 111 before holing out in the final over of the innings. Her 71-ball knock comprised 16 fours and three maximums.
Eleanor Larosa (4/20) picked up three wickets in the final over as the Sixers finished their innings on 173/4. The game went down the wire and the Sixers held their nerves to emerge victorious by a single run to qualify for the Challenger on Thursday.
1W Knocked down to long on, the call is for two runs but Ecclestone is well short of the crease. The Sixers seal a thriller to make it to the finals of WBBL 2025. Heartbreak for Patterson and the Strikers as they knock out of the competition. Gardner bowls it really full around off, Ecclestone knocks it down to long on and calls for two straightaway. The fielder out on the boundary gets to the ball quickly and throws it at the bowler's end. Gardner is aware that Patterson is going to make it so she collects it and throws it to Healy who collects it cleanly and breaks the stumps in a flash. Ecclestone is well short of the crease and the Strikers fall agonizingly short by 1 run.
3 required from 1. Alyssa Healy is standing well behind the stumps.