Category: Women’s Big Bash league

Ellyse ‘exceptional’ Perry makes history in Women’s Big Bash League

Ellyse 'exceptional' Perry makes history in Women's Big Bash League

How many of you have seen a player who can score runs, take wickets and has a brilliant fielding skill? There are very few players in the world cricket with all these qualities and Ellyse Perry is definitely one of them. 

One of the best all-rounders, Australia’s Ellyse Perry has certainly come a long way with her all-round performances. Though in the national team, she comes into bat in the lower middle order, she left no stone unturned in the ongoing Women’s Big Bash League. She has continued her incredible form to guide her side Sydney Sixers reach the final of the WBBL.

Probably, there is nothing which Ellyse Perry can’t do!

She became the first player both male and female to reach 2000 runs in Big Bash League during their match against Renegades on January 13 where she scored an unbeaten 67 at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium. The semi-final against Melbourne Renegades showed Perry’s capability once again.

Having won the toss, Sydney Sixers elected to bat first but got off to a horror start. In-form opener Alyssa Healy, Ashleigh Gardner, and Erin Burns got dismissed within the powerplay. They were reduced to 33/4 when Sara McGlashan got out in the 10th over. Captain Perry scored another half-century, added 98-run with Dane van Niekerk through a steady association and put up 131/4 after 20 overs.

Chasing 132, Melbourne Renegades too had a similar start and reduced to 19/3 very quick. Sophie Molineux and Jessica Duffin steadied the chase. When 13 runs were needed in the last over to win the game, Perry came to finish her spell. Molineux hit the first ball towards a deep backward point boundary, following two singles and 4 runs in next four balls. And, then came the last ball which led the game to the super over.

Also Read: Mithali hopes for a positive start to 2019

Three runs were needed to win the final ball. Molineux hit over the backward point where Erin Burns sprinted from the deep cover-point and her wonderful diving save the boundary. Sarah Aley was there who throw the ball to Healy but Molineux’s partner Claire Koski reached the ground by that time. While coming back for three Molineux got slow and couldn’t cover the ground. Alyssa Healy gathered the ball from Aley’s throw and throw it to the non-striker’s end which caused Molineux’s dismissal and leaves the scores tied.

In the super over, Kapp’s brilliant spell allow Renegades to put up just six runs. In reply, Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry opened the chase. Three singles came from the first three balls while a remarkable six in the fourth ball from Perry keep Sydney Sixers’ dream alive of winning the third consecutive WBBL title.

WBBL somehow changed the pace of T20 game. Before 130-140 was the safe score to win a match but now 180 too isn’t safe. Scoring 300 runs in a season was considered a very good WBBL season before. It would become a great season if someone crossed 400. For the first two seasons of WBBL, it was only Meg Lanning who scored over 500 runs. In the third season of WBBL in 2017-18, Ellyse Perry and Elyse Villani managed to cross 500 but Lanning’s 560 in the first season remained the highest score.

But Perry has been going through an exceptional tournament this year in the WBBL. She has scored the most runs ever in a single season. Perry amassed 744 runs in 15 matches opening the batting for Sydney Sixers, break Lanning’s record and created a new one. This year her scores are as follows: 58, 102*, 74*, 10, 72*, 103*, 2, 8, 48, 47, 13, 80*, 67*, 6, 54*. Though there are big hitters present in the team like Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner, Perry provides the stability in the innings and try to anchor till the end.

Not only with the bat but she performed with the ball as well. She scalped 10 wickets in 15 matches. Along with this, her fielding is known to everyone. She is one of the best fielders in the world cricket right now. No wonder, her side, Sydney Sixers is the top of the table. Having started the career as a bowler, Ellyse Perry now has become the top-four ODI batters with 25 half-centuries and the average is just under 50.

She is the no. 1 batter and the all-rounder in the ICC ODI ranking while 9th as a bowler and in T20I, she stands 3rd in all-rounders’ list, 5th among the bowlers and 22nd among batters. Like the previous seasons, she will try to guide her team Sydney Sixers to another win in the final against Brisbane Heat at Drummoyne Oval, Sydney on January 26. It will be interesting to see, whether Perry, who has led the team from the front in the whole season, will have the last laugh or Brisbane Heat will be able to win their first ever WBBL title.

Harmanpreet, Mandhana smash half-centuries for winning causes for their respective teams

BCCI are ready to run Women's T20 exhibition matches during IPL 2019

India T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her deputy Smriti Mandhana smashed half-centuries for their respective sides and helped them to win convincingly. 

This is Harmanpreet Kaur’s third stint with Sydney Thunder. She was the first player from India (both male and female) who got the chance to play in the Big Bash League. From the Asia Cup to recently concluded ICC Women’s World T20, she has been in a prolific form. This season started with a 28-ball 45 against Sydney Sixers.

Kaur scored a half-century for the winning cause on the very next match against Brisbane Heat. Her 56 comprised with 6 fours and 3 sixes. Sydney Thunders then restricted Brisbane Heat out for 164 in 18.5 overs to a convincing 28-run win at the North Sydney Oval ground.

Harmanpreet Kaur was recently involved in a controversy related to the dropping of experienced India ODI captain Mithali Raj in the semifinal of the ICC Women’s World T20; where they lost miserably. She was the top-scorer of Sydney Thunder.

Harmanpreet got promoted on the day and batted at number three. She made two crucial partnerships, first 41 runs for the third wicket with Naomi Stalenberg; who scored 10 off 13 and the second 53 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Alex Blackwell; who scored 33* off 18.

On the other hand, Smriti Mandhana is playing her second season in Women’s Big Bash League. She was a part of Brisbane Heat in the 2016-17 season but she had to leave after getting injured during a fielding session in a match. Mandhana too has been in a great form and scored 178 runs in 5 matches in the recently concluded ICC Women’s World T20.

She is playing for Hobart Hurricanes this year and in the second match, she top-scored for her side with a 41-ball 69 and helped her side to put up 196 after the 20 overs; while batting first against Melbourne Stars at West Park Oval, Burnie.

Her innings comprised with 13 fours and came off 41 balls. Hobart Hurricanes later bowled Melbourne Stars for 124 in 16.5 overs and win comfortably.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana @Women’s Big Bash league

Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana @Women's Big Bash league

HIGHLIGHTS:

 

⚬ Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to represent Sydney Thunder for the third consecutive season.

 

⚬ Smriti Mandhana has been picked by Hobart Hurricanes for this season.

 

⚬ Women’s Big Bash League will begin on & from 1st December.

The Women’s Big Bash League is back with its fourth season. With eight franchises showcasing the biggest names from women’s cricket world and the best talents of Australia, this season will start on and from 1st December. The first match will feature Hobart Hurricanes and Pert Scorchers. Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, the captain and vice captain duo of Indian T20 team will be featured in this season’s Big Bash as well.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana
Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana pose for the cameras © Annesha Ghosh

Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to represent Sydney Thunder for the third consecutive season whereas Smriti Mandhana has been picked by Hobart Hurricanes for this season replacing her teammate Veda Krishnamurthy.

Harmanpreet Kaur was the top scorer of the season for Sydney Thunder in the first season. She smashed 296 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 117, and adjudged Thunder’s player of tournament that season. Harmanpreet Kaur had a decent run in the Women’s Cricket Super League in England this year as well. Based on the average she was the second best batter of her team, Lancashire Thunder scoring 164 runs in 7 matches with an average of 32.80. She was a key player in Thunder’s win over Surrey Stars, when her team needed 11 run in the last over to win the match and she calmly closed the match with a four and a six on the 4th and 5th delivery of the 20th over.

The third highest run scorer will be joining her Western Strom captain Heather Knight of England who also plays for Hurricane in the Big Bash League. Smriti Mandhana is in super form this year. She finished the Kia Super League as the highest run getter in England earlier this year. Smriti Mandhana scored 421 runs in nine innings- which is the highest across all reasons of Women’s Cricket League (Kia Super League) and Women’s Big Bash League. Smriti’s strike rate of 174.69 and 21 sixes are all time records in women’s league cricket. Smriti Mandhana’s first stint in the Big Bash League ended with an injury. This time she will hopefully finish it with high numbers.

Both Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, have shown their class in ICC T20 tournament. Harmanpreet Kaur scored a blistering century and led the team throughout whereas her deputy, Smriti Mandhana had a decent tournament including one half century.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana have been powerful batter for T20 cricket overall and hopefully they will be able to prove their worth in this season of Big Bash as well.