The WBBL Brisbane Heat have held their nerve to ovecome the Sydney Sixers at North Sydney Oval as a disciplined bowling and fielding efforts helped keep them in Finals contention.
Heat Spread WBBL Wings | Overcome Sixers
Brisbane have continued to breathe life back into their Weber WBBL campaign, landing a mega blow to the Sydney Sixers' campaign after beating the hosts by 12 runs yesterday.
In a crucial match for both teams, the Heat's bowlers delivered to restrict the Sixers to 8-127 at North Sydney Oval, defending their total of 9-139 with apparent ease.
Led by skipper Jess Jonassen (3-24), the Heat remain fifth on the ladder with a 4-3 record after two straight wins.
The Sixers, however, are at risk of missing the finals for the second-straight season with a 3-4 record while sitting sixth on the ladder.
Even more concerning for the Sixers is the fact they were somewhat in control midway through the match.
While Grace Harris (39 off 26) and Georgia Redmayne (28 from 23) threatened to get away for the Heat, Amelia Kerr's 4-23 against her old team had the Sixers well on top.
The New Zealander spun her way through Brisbane's middle and lower order, while Sophie Ecclestone also claimed 2-18 from her four over.
But from there, it fell apart for the Sixers on a ground where runs are generally easy to strike.
Alyssa Healy's difficult start to the tournament continued when she skied Shikha Pandey (2-25 in the first over, while Ellyse Perry also fell for one early.
Kerr became Pandey's second victim shortly after, and when Ashleigh Gardner was lbw trying to scoop Jess Jonassen, the game was all but over.
Sarah Bryce (30 from 26) and Sophie Ecclestone (24no from 18) threatened a late comeback, as teenager Caoimhe Bray also helped get the equation down to 29 off 12 balls.
But Pandey and Jonassen stood tall when it mattered in the final two overs to get the Heat home.