Amelia Kerr shows her class in first appearance of WBBL season
The allrounder's performance helped Brisbane Heat back to the top of the table
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Nov-2023
Amelia Kerr had an immediate impact on the WBBL • Getty Images
Amelia Kerr wasted no time making an impression on the WBBL with a starring all-round performance to put Brisbane Heat back at the top of the table after they had briefly been over taken by Sydney Thunder.
Kerr, who Heat knew would have a delayed arrival when they took her as expected in the draft, guided the run chase after a miserly performance with the ball in her first appearance of the season.
Kerr had success in her second over when she removed Heather Graham lbw amid a stuttering Hobart Hurricanes batting display and later added Ruth Johnston with her final delivery.
Fellow spinner Charli Knott had struck early to claim the key wicket of Lizelle Lee with her first delivery of the game. When Hurricanes fell to 44 for 5 in the 10th over they had been left a mountain to climb although Elyse Villani held things together with an unbeaten half-century to give them something to bowl at.
When Grace Harris was lbw to Molly Strano's first ball - beaten by one which went on with the arm - there was belief in the Hurricanes camp and Shabnim Ismail removed Georgia Redmayne to leave them 26 for 2.
However, from there Kerr had things under control with a 38-ball half-century, adding 57 for the third wicket with Mignon du Preez before Knott helped finish the chase.
Ismail was again impressive with the ball, sending down 13 dots in her four overs.