Here are the scores
Stars 124/9 lost to Scorchers 125/2
Stars 124/9 lost to Scorchers 125/2
Strikers 132 ao lost to Thunder 134/4
Sixers 155/3 beat Hurricanes 133/5
Scorchers 90/7 lost to Stars 91/6
Strikers 145/5 lost to Thunder 146/5
Strikers 145/5 lost to Thunder 146/5
Sixers 158/3 beat Hurricanes 141 ao
Heat 174/8 beat Renegades 153/7
Top performances with the bat came from...
Suzie Bates 79*
Ash Gardner 79*
Rachel Priest 58*
Suzie Bates 79*
Ash Gardner 79*
Rachel Priest 58*
Stafanie Taylor 55
Harmanpreet Kaur 52*
Ellyse Vilanni 52*
Heather Knight 51*
And with the ball...
Molly Strano 4/21
Rene Farrell 3/12
Kristen Beams 3/13
Maisy Gibson 3/23
Maisy Gibson 3/23
In the build-up to Christmas there are four midweek games this week...
Hurricanes v Scorchers on Tuesday, with both teams desperate for a win. Scorchers are once again without Meg Lanning, and if Canes (still without Hayley Matthews) can keep the momentum they had against table-topping Sixers, they might just pull off a big win against a rather deflated Scorchers.
On Wednesday 4th place Heat take on 3rd place Stars, before the Heat boys get a turn at playing women's cricket. Both teams come into the game on the back of wins and it should be a tight match. Too close to call.
On Friday it is Thunder v Hurricanes and Strikers v Stars. Thunder are likely to prove too strong for Canes' bowling attack and should cement their place at the top of the ladder. Strikers will be keen to kickstart their season, which has fallen a bit flat after an opening weekend win over Heat. If they are to finish in the top four this is the sort of game they must win. A lot could depend on how Stars fared two days earlier (they got steamrollered by Grace Harris!!).
On Wednesday 4th place Heat take on 3rd place Stars, before the Heat boys get a turn at playing women's cricket. Both teams come into the game on the back of wins and it should be a tight match. Too close to call.
On Friday it is Thunder v Hurricanes and Strikers v Stars. Thunder are likely to prove too strong for Canes' bowling attack and should cement their place at the top of the ladder. Strikers will be keen to kickstart their season, which has fallen a bit flat after an opening weekend win over Heat. If they are to finish in the top four this is the sort of game they must win. A lot could depend on how Stars fared two days earlier (they got steamrollered by Grace Harris!!).
These games will be followed by another five games over the pre-Christmas weekend, but we'll get to those on Saturday morning, after the dust has settled from these midweek fixtures.
Martin Davies
17/XII/18
Martin Davies
17/XII/18
Hurricanes are having a strange season where they look good for long periods and are managing to stay in games and compete. But they just keep losing out in the important moments, where their lack of star players with the bat and rather makeshift, somewhat unbalanced bowling attack are being shown up. And although their fielding has been OK, their catching has been poor at times. As an example, against Sixers they dropped, funnily enough, six catches by my count. You just can't do that facing players like Perry and Erin Burns, who is a very good and underrated player who 'Canes must really be missing. In fact Burns must be one of the best non-international players around. I'm surprised she's not been picked for Australia recently. Great with bat and ball and in the field.
ReplyDeleteStrikers have been disappointing for me, they threaten to perform well at times but their batting lineup is a bit hit-and-miss. McGrath and Wellington have not so far justified their elevated positions. They seem to be a team with a few bit-part players but they'll have to improve quickly to be in with a chance of qualification.
Apart from the Sydney sides who may both run away from the rest of the pack, who can edge up into the top four? I'm not sure Stars will stay there, they have over-achieved if anything so far. Scorchers certainly should be there, although they've not really played to their potential much yet. I think Heat could be challengers this year - providing they can find the consistency needed to maintain some strong early performances. Grace Harris was absolutely unbelievable today. When they play like they did today against Stars, the others teams should all take notice!