A blistering start to the run chase on Saturday has ensured Hobart Hurricanes nonchalantly chalked up a maiden win in their WBBL season opener.
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The Hurricanes delivered the first ball of the 2016-17 women’s Twenty20 competition ahead of the first of two triple-headers in Sydney over the weekend.
Barbadian teen opener Hayley Matthews amassed 48 off 38 balls that included eight fours against the Perth Scorchers chasing 120 to win.
The signs were ominous when Matthews got off the mark lofting left-arm spinner Rebecca Grundy with a fourth-ball six over long on.
The 18-year-old soon hit consecutive boundaries to race to 20 off 11 balls to hand the Hurricanes 22 runs inside the third over.
Keeper/opening bat Georgia Redmayne went along for the ride, hitting 24 off 28 to help put on 72 for an opening stand off 10 overs.
Redmayne and Matthews fell within six runs of each other. Captain Heather Knight proved solid, compiling 15 off 16 balls to keep Hobart’s momentum going.
But the dismissal of Amy Satterthwaite (7) and Knight off consecutive balls had the Canes shaky at 4-97, still requiring 23 from 26 balls.
The experience of Erin Burns steadied the ship to score 14 off 12 to guide her side to a five-wicket win.
Perth had slumped to 4-60 off 14 overs until Katherine Brunt bludgeoned 41 off 24.
An unbeaten 26 off 24 from Lauren Ebsary gave her side 59 from the final six overs.
Launceston seamer Katelyn Fryett finished her three overs with 1-18 among the six Scorchers’ dismissals.
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
