Lizelle Lee produced a commanding efficiency to steer Hobart Hurricanes to their first-ever Ladies’s Huge Bash League title, dismantling Perth Scorchers in a one-sided closing with a thunderous, unbeaten half-century.
After a disciplined bowling effort restricted the Scorchers to 137/5, the Hurricanes made gentle work of the chase, cruising house with 5 overs to spare. Lee set the tone instantly, placing three boundaries within the opening over, earlier than Danielle Wyatt-Hodge adopted swimsuit to propel the Hurricanes to a brisk begin. The early onslaught left the Scorchers on the again foot as Hobart raced to 24 with out loss after two overs.
Wyatt-Hodge departed within the sixth over, however any hopes of a fightback have been rapidly dashed. Lee maintained her dominance in opposition to the bowlers, whereas Nat Sciver-Brunt contributed well timed boundaries to maintain the required price comfortably manageable. The decisive second arrived when Lee launched Alana King for consecutive sixes, earlier than discovering the gaps for a few boundaries within the following over.
The flurry of pictures introduced up her half-century and successfully sealed the competition. Though Sciver-Brunt perished later within the recreation, Lee remained unbeaten, together with her innings additionally setting a brand new file for the best particular person rating in a WBBL closing.
Earlier, the Scorchers struggled to search out momentum after electing to bat, maybe feeling the toll of a demanding schedule that had seen them play their third match in 5 days. The ability-play yielded little fluency, with Katie Mack falling for 17 off 21 deliveries. Beth Mooney, in positive type coming into the ultimate, was handed a number of possibilities however didn’t convert them earlier than being finally bowled by Heather Graham for 33.
Sophie Devine and Paige Scholfield tried to raise the scoring price by the center overs, however the Hobart bowlers stored chipping away. With 4 overs remaining, Scorchers sat at 106/4 and have been eyeing a late surge. Devine briefly threatened the opposition with a six earlier than being stumped within the subsequent over. Regardless of a couple of boundaries from Scholfield, a sluggish closing over curtailed any hopes of a aggressive whole.
The Scorchers closed on 137 for five, a rating that proved properly wanting the mark in opposition to a Hurricanes facet impressed by Lee’s ruthless ending, as Hobart celebrated a historic WBBL triumph.
Transient scores: Perth Scorchers Ladies 137/5 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 34, Beth Mooney 33; Linsey Smith 2-8) misplaced to Hobart Hurricanes Ladies 141/2 in 15 overs (Lizelle Lee 77*, Nat Sciver-Brunt 35; Amy Edgar 1-13) by 8 wickets.