Flashback: Women's Big Bash League 2017-18
The fourth edition of the Women's Big Bash League has kicked off in grand fashion in Australia.
The previous edition of the competition was played between 9th December 2017 and 4th February 2018. The format of the tournament was the same as the two tournaments held before – double league matches followed by the semi-finals and final.
In the 2017/18 edition, defending champions Sydney Sixers topped the league stage with 20 points, thus qualifying for the semi-final. The other three teams to qualify for the last four were Sydney Thunder (20 points), Perth Scorchers (16 points) and Adelaide Strikers (16 points). Although both the teams from Sydney had equal points, the Sydney Sixers topped the group because of better NRR (net run-rate). Sydney Sixers had an NRR of +890, whereas the NRR for Sydney Thunders was +0.684.
The semi-finals saw Perth Scorchers (148/2) defeat Sydney Thunder (121/8) and Sydney Sixers (138/5) defeat Adelaide Strikers (121/9). With this win, Sydney Sixers became the only team to make it to all the finals of the WBBL.
In the finals, Perth Scorchers batted first and set a target of 100 runs for the Sydney Sixers to win. Sydney Sixers dominated from the get-go, and chased down the target in 15 overs. With this win, the Sydney Sixers claimed their second WBBL title in three years.
It is now time to take a look at some of the highlights of the tournament.
242/4 scored by Sydney Sixers against Melbourne Stars was the highest team total in WBBL 2017-18.
552 runs scored by Ellyse Perry of Sydney Sixers was the most number of runs scored by a player in WBBL 2017-18.
114 scored by Ashleigh Gardner of Sydney Sixers against Melbourne Stars is the highest individual score by a player in an innings in WBBL 2017-18.
3 centuries were scored in WBBL 2017-18. These were scored by Ashleigh Gardener (Sydney Sixers), Alyssa Healey (Sydney Sixers) & Suzie Bates (Adelaide Strikers).
51 half-centuries were scored in WBBL 2017-18.
5 half-centuries each by Beth Mooney (Brisbane Heat) and Elyse Villani (Perth Scorchers) was the most number of half-centuries hit by a player in WBBL 2017-18.
21 sixes hit by Ashleigh Gardner (Sydney Sixers) is the most number of sixes hit by a player in WBBL 2017-18.
10 sixes hit by Ashleigh Gardner against Melbourne Stars is the most number of sixes hit by a player in an innings in WBBL 2017-18.
23 wickets taken by Katherine Brunt of Perth Scorchers is the most number of wickets taken by a player in WBBL 2017-18.
4/2 by Jemma Barsby of Brisbane Heat against Sydney Thunder is the best bowling performance by a player in an innings in WBBL 2017-18.
2 four wickets haul by Dane van Niekerk of Sydney Sixers is the most number of four wickets haul taken by a player in WBBL 2017-18.
14 dismissals by Alyssa Healy (Ct- 8, St- 6) is the most number of dismissals by a wicket-keeper in WBBL 2017-18.
4 dismissals by Tegan McPharlin (Ct- 2, St- 2) of Adelaide Strikers against Hobart Hurricanes is the most number of dismissals by a wicket-keeper in an innings in WBBL 2017-18.
13 catches by Natalie Sciver of Perth Scorchers is the most number of catches taken by a player in WBBL 2017-18.
4 catches taken by Suzie Bates of Sydney Strikers against Melbourne Renegades is the most number of catches taken by a player in an innings in WBBL 2017-18.
3 Player of the Match awards won by Sophie Molineux (Melbourne Renegades), Beth Mooney (Brisbane Heat), Elyse Villani (Perth Scorchers), Tahila McGrath (Adelaide Strikers) & Amy Satterthwaite (Melbourne Renegades) each is the most number of Player of the Match Award won by a player in WBBL 2017-18.