WBBL02 - 8 more games, 10 more facts

So we are 16 games in to the 56 game WBBL02 league schedule and it is the Melbourne Stars and the Hobart Hurricanes, who head the table with three wins out of four games. But there is still a long way to go.

The girls can take a rest now until Boxing Day, but after that it is full on until 9th January, with 24 games in 14 days. With teams needing to win probably eight games to be sure of making the top four, things could be a lot clearer by the four day break in early 2017, by which time most of the teams will have played 10 of their 14 games.

But here are a few facts to keep you going until the next instalment hits our computer screens...

Fact 1
The WBBL has had it's first Super Over. It came in the Hurricanes v Renegades game as the Renegades failed to score the two runs they needed off the last two balls of the game. In the Super Over the Renegades hit 12 runs, but with two needed off the last ball Erin Burns smashed the ball to the midwicket boundary for a Canes' win. (full scorecard including Super Over is here)

Fact 2
Neither Meg Lanning nor Jess Cameron for the Melbourne Stars appear to be able to throw overarm at the present time! But have the opposition noticed? Quick singles ladies?

Fact 3
In the Heat v Scorchers second clash the Heat only managed to put 101/9 on the board off their 20 overs and 15 of those were wides - the most so far in WBBL02! Misses Brunt, Bates and Grundy to the naughty step.

Fact 4
On the flip side congratulations and a thumping pat on the back to the Stars, who gave away just 1 extra run (a Morna Nielsen wide), in their second game against the Sixers - the Stars went on to chase down 111/8 with just three wickets down.

Fact 5
The top two run scorers in WBBL02 are both Kiwis!!
Sophie Devine has 127 and Amy Satterthwaite 122. 
I suppose I ought to mention that someone called Meg Lanning has 122 runs too. I'm sure she'll go far in the game!

Fact 6
Last year's finalists, the Sydney Thunder and the Sydney Sixers, are currently languishing in sixth and eighth in the league, having both won just one game out of four. It is a better start than the Sixers had last year though (they lost their first six games then!)

Fact 7
It wasn't Ellyse Perry's weekend as she scored 0 and 4 for the Sixers against the Stars. Having been caught behind off Emma Kearney in Game 1, she had a Groundhog Day moment the next day (or was in the same day...again?)...

Spot the difference?! #WBBL02 pic.twitter.com/sC1Iq8YOrt

— Rebel WBBL (@RebelWBBL) December 18, 2016

Fact 8

After a "quiet start" to the tournament Heat's Beth Mooney suddenly found her mojo in their second game against the Scorchers. Not content with a record equalling four stumpings, Mooney then went on to smash 67* out of 95/2 to win the game.

Fact 9

And on the subject of wicketkeepers, Perth Scorchers' Meg Banting has stood behind the stumps for 80 overs and is yet to claim a catch or a stumping!

Fact 10 

And finally...if you win the toss then it looks like you are better off opting to bat second. Sides batting second have won 10 of the 16 games to date. Sides batting first have won only four (one game cancelled and one tied)....

That is unless you are the Renegades, who won the toss against the Strikers and batted second and lost, and then won the toss twice against the Canes, batted second both times, and went on to lose both those matches too (the second in a Super Over)!

MD

19/XII/16