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The Adelaide Strikers have won their way through to the WBBL final after downing the Brisbane Heat by six wickets in a drama-filled Challenger clash.
- Bridget Patterson and Madeline Penna brought up the winning runs for the Strikers
- The Heat had made 8-154 from their 20 overs
- The Strikers will play the Sixers in the final
In reply to Brisbane's 8-154 at Adelaide's Karen Rolton Oval on Thursday night, the Strikers won with two balls to spare after a heroic knock from Bridget Patterson (45 not out off 26 deliveries) and ice-cool composure from Madeline Penna (11 not out).
The result thrusts the Strikers — who lost last season's decider to the Perth Scorchers — into Saturday night's final against the ladder-topping Sixers in Sydney.
The Heat only had themselves to blame for the loss to the Strikers, dropping three catches in the field and missing a stock-standard stumping chance.
Courtney Sippel dropped Laura Wolvaardt (47 off 45 balls) in the deep twice when the batter was on 17 and 21.
Reserve wicketkeeper Ellie Johnston fumbled a stumping chance when Wolvaardt was on 45.
Patterson was on just 17 when she was grassed by Amelia Kerr.
The sloppy fielding came amid a bizarre incident, with star Heat wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne appearing to sustain a lower-leg injury while celebrating a wicket.
After taking a catch to remove the dangerous Deandra Dottin for 39, Redmayne took off to celebrate with her teammates but immediately crumpled to the turf.
A confused Redmayne realised the pain had been caused by either her Achilles or calf tearing, before limping off the field.
The Strikers needed 27 off the last 13 deliveries, and Patterson produced a series of clutch shots to get the equation down to nine off the last over.
Penna then struck Kerr for two boundaries to seal the win.
Earlier, Laura Harris produced another big-hitting display to lift the Heat to a competitive total of 8-154.
Harris cracked 44 off 14 balls in Wednesday night's elimination final win over the Hobart Hurricanes, and she followed it up with 33 (off 14) against the Strikers.
Kerr top-scored for the Heat with 43 off 32 deliveries, with Grace Harris chipping in with 23.
The Heat lost 2-2 in the penultimate over, which was bowled by Deandra Dottin (2-29).
Heat captain Jess Jonassen (4) was one of those dismissals and she was unimpressed after being caught by Megan Schutt.
Schutt lit the fuse earlier in the week when she described the Heat as an arrogant team.
But what incensed Jonassen was the fact Schutt and a teammate had come together to talk, not realising Dottin was already running in to bowl.
Schutt moved back to her fielding position just moments before the delivery was unleashed and Jonassen hit it right to the Strikers star.
Jonassen pointed angrily and mouthed off as she left the field following her dismissal.
Schutt was also damaging with the ball, finishing with the figures of 3-26.
AAP