The Adelaide Strikers dominated with the ball against the Sydney Sixers, securing their finals spot in WBBL|07. Image: Adelaide Strikers/Twitter
The Adelaide Strikers have secured their place in the WBBL|07 finals with an emphatic win over the Sydney Sixers.
Back at home on the Adelaide Oval deck for the first time since December 31, 2018, the Strikers tore through the Sixers line up, bowling the side out for just 82 runs and setting themselves up for a dominant win.
On a four-game winning streak, a blip last Wednesday against the Perth Scorchers only fired up the Strikers, who were ruthless against the Sixers.
Post-match, Strikers’ bowler Sarah Coyte said the group was ‘vibing’ after making finals once again.
“It’s a really nice feeling, considering last year we didn’t quite play up to our standards,” Coyte said.
“So, to make it through this year and put on a really dominant performance like that, today, is pretty cool.”
It was a hot start from Adelaide who struck early, taking the wickets of Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner without either of them making a run.
After taking the wicket of Gardner, caught behind, Darcie Brown continued in her next over dismissing Ellyse Perry lbw for nine.
The pressure was relentless on the Sixers, who then lost Shafali Verma and Nicole Bolton both run out due to miscommunications in the middle.
Into the middle order and the Strikers continued taking regular wickets, which made it difficult for any Sixers’ batter to out on runs during their short time in the middle.
The Strikers bowling contingent was collectively brilliant, each taking at least one wicket, with Coyte’s 3/12 the best of the bunch.
Coyte said iit’s always nice to get wickets’, but admits they’re only really worthwhile if the team takes home the points.
“I don’t really care unless we win, so I care a little bit now!”
McGrath, Schutt and Wellington finished with 1/8, 1/16 and 1/18, respectively. While Player of the Match, Brown, bowled out in the eighth over, taking 2/25.
“It was a really cool vibe (in the field). I think, everyone, like we prepared well, we’ve trained well, it’s all kind of falling into place now at the right time.
“I think we just needed to trust our plans to each batter and we knew that early on the ball was going to swing a little bit and once it stopped swinging, we wanted to take the pace right off it.
“I think we just executed really well today.”
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The execution continued with the bat, as Dané van Niekerk and Katie Mack started in the middle for the Strikers’ chase of just 83 runs.
“Sometimes chasing those totals like that, the game can go one of two ways.
“So, it’s nice that the girls still went out with that intent to score the runs keep getting that net run rate up.”
Coyte felt pretty safe in the dugout, full tracksuit on, resting up for Sunday’s match against the Melbourne Stars, while her openers set out to get the job done.
“It’s really nice to see Dané (van Niekerk) and Katie (Mack) in this type of form…
“They’re really confident when they’re heading out into the middle, so that’s good for us as well to sit back and just enjoy the show.”
While van Niekerk and Mack couldn’t do it all themselves, Laura Wolvaardt and McGrath finish off the chase comfortably.
The camp is feeling really positive ahead of a finals berth, and ready to take on any team next week.
“We’re all feeling good, we’re vibing. We’re just having a lot of fun and enjoying each other’s company and playing some good cricket.”
The Adelaide Strikers face the Melbourne Stars on Sunday at 1:40pm AEDT in their last round match for WBBL|07, ahead of the finals from Wednesday.
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