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The Adelaide Strikers have won back-to-back WBBL titles, defeating the Brisbane Heat by just three runs in a nail-biting victory.
In front of an Adelaide Oval crowd of 12,379, the Strikers stood up for their home crowd and took home the title, after finishing the season as minor premiers.
It was Strikers captain Tahlia McGrath who got her team over the line with ball in hand, finishing on a hat-trick, removing dangerous Heat duo Mignon du Preez (13 off 20) and Laura Harris (golden duck).
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“The captain has stood up in this moment,” Mel Jones said on Fox.
The Heat’s big hitter Charlie Knott attempted to resuscitate her side’s middle-order slump, but was removed for just 20 runs in the 16th over.
Needing 20 runs off 11 balls, Brisbane’s Jess Jonassen attempted to keep her side in the final, but was bowled by Megan Schutt for five.
Voll (three) fell next for the Heat with just three balls remaining, her side requiring 11 runs off the remaining deliveries, with Madeline Penna taking a crucial catch to get the Adelaide crowd on their feet.
The Strikers were able to hang on for a mighty victory despite a late Heat surge and a rocky start to their own batting, with star opener Katie Mack removed for just five runs in the first over.
“They’ve gone back-to-back, more importantly, back-to-back in front of their home crowd,” Jones said.
Striker Megan Schutt spoke after the gutsy win.
“I’m a bit emotional, actually,” Schutt told Fox.
“It was touch-and-go, let’s not lie about that, but we knew if we could bowl well (we could win).”
As for next year, Schutt made the bold call that her side could do it all again, hoping to create history by going back-to-back-to-back.
“Yeah, three-peat, go on,” Schutt quipped.
