Brisbane Heat secure finals berth by dominating seven-over thrash
Jess Jonassen claimed three wickets as Melbourne Stars' poor season continued
AAP
Nov 22, 2024, 12:56 PM
Jess Jonassen had a key impact in the rain-hit contest • Getty Images
Brisbane Heat 47 for 1 beat Melbourne Stars 46 for 6 (Jonassen 3-8) by nine wickets
Brisbane Heat secured a WBBL finals spot with a nine-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars in a rain-affected fixture.
Heat's bowlers ripped through Stars' top-order batters in a match reduced to seven overs a side at Brisbane's Allan Border Field. Stars made just 46 for 6 after losing their initial four wickets in a three-run span - Heat duo Lucy Hamilton and captain Jess Jonassen took two wickets each in 10 balls.
Heat cruised to 47 for 1 from 5.2 overs - they can't miss the finals and remain a strong chance of pinching top spot from ladder-leaders Sydney Thunder. They joined Melbourne Renegades on 12 points, one behind Thunder.
Renegades play Thunder on Saturday in their last game before the finals while Heat's last match is against Sydney Sixers on Sunday.
After heavy rain delayed the start on Friday night, the last-placed Stars scored 21 for 0 from their initial two overs. But Heat's 18-year-old quick Hamilton - who destroyed Stars five days ago when taking 5 for 8 - again turned tormentor.
She claimed two wickets in three balls and, next over, skipper Jonassen collected two more.
Heat were untroubled in their run chase: Grace Harris set the tone by smacking the first three balls of the innings for four. She and sister and Laura Harris put on 34 for the first wicket as Heat cruised to victory.