A 140-run opening stand by Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne made life tough for the Hobart Hurricanes as the Brisbane Heat emerged 14-run winners at UTAS Stadium.
Harris' 75 off 51 balls and Redmayne's 64 off 50 set a major platform for the Heat's 6-170 while Mignon du Preez (73 off 49) gave the Hurricanes a look at an unlikely win.
Rachel Priest's decision to bowl first looked to pay off early for the 'Canes, conceding nine runs off the first three overs from Tayla Vlaeminck and Belinda Vakarewa, with the former being hit for only two.
However, the Heat's dynamic opening pair of former 'Cane Redmayne and Harris ramped up their work in the next three, finishing the six-over power-play at 0-42.
With the duo reaching their 50 partnership in the seventh over, they looked rather comfortable at the crease, eventually reaching the halfway mark at 0-84.
It seemed like it was going to take something out of the ordinary to separate the two as Captain Hurricane was unleashed to keep the week's biggest crowd on its toes.
Harris brought up her half-century with a strong six over mid-on and offered her first chance overs later, dropped at cover by Richa Ghosh.
The prized wicket would eventually come through a shock miscommunication with the powerful Harris ran out by Amy Smith after a misfield.
Ruth Johnston would make it a second wicket in the over, bowling new batter Laura Kimmince for two and as Redmayne and Georgia Voll looked set to explode in the last two overs, Ghosh produced another run-out for the Hurricanes with Molly Strano.
Strano and Ghosh partnered up again with the last ball of the 19th over, bringing Redmayne's innings to an end, while another run-out and a stumping saw Johnston finish with 2-30 as the Heat lost 6-30.
While many of the Hurricanes' bowlers found it tough going, Vlaeminck was a shining light in the loss, finishing her four overs with figures of 0-10.
The Hurricanes' batting innings didn't start with the same comforts as their opponents, with Priest copping an early knock to her already-sore finger in the first over before being dismissed LBW two overs later for nine.
The LBW trend didn't stop for the Hurricanes, with Johnston (3) adjudged in front off the bowling of Courtney Sippel while trying to hit to the leg-side, continuing the bowler's strong form against the home team.
International pair Ghosh and du Preez got the 'Canes out of the six-over powerplay at 2-36 as the former produced shots of all angles, including a ramp over the keeper Redmayne's heat.
They got the home side to the 50-run milestone but Ghosh was bowled for 16 off just nine balls, replaced by Nicola Carey, who got in the swing of things early.
As the Hurricanes reached the 10-over mark at 3-68, needing 103 runs in the back half for the victory, du Preez's shot-making continued to blossom, showing the form that's seen her make 50s against six of the eight WBBL sides.
Carey and du Preez brought up their 50 partnership on the same ball the side reached 100 runs, with the South African making the half-century milestone herself an over later, keeping a massive Hurricanes chase within grasp.
An even 10 runs an over were required off the last four to make that dream a reality but du Preez was caught behind down leg-side off the bowling of countrywoman Anneke Bosch, creating a bump in the road by breaking the 87-run stand.
Carey was dismissed just three balls later, caught behind again off Sippel, swinging the game back the Heat's way.
Strano produced some strong hitting at the end, attempting to replicate her Tuesday performance but the writing was on the wall - needing 19 runs off the final over to win.
Hobart made five runs and lost three wickets off the final six balls to finish with 9-156, with Heat bowlers Jess Jonassen (3-25), Nicola Hancock (3-33) and Sippel (2-25) the pick of the bunch
The loss brings the Hurricanes' tournament record to 2-4, meaning they will leave their home state with a negative record regardless of Sunday's 10.15am result against the Sydney Thunder.
Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
