This is a really, really good run chase from the Strikers, especially if you consider how they capitulated against the Renegades the other night. Katie Mack was the absolute star of the show for just how well she timed the knock, slow at the start and picking up boundaries at the crucial moments.
Wolvaardt and McGrath's wickets were telling but Patterson and Penna supported Mack well and never really let the pressure build on. Dunkley was the pick of the bowlers and removed Patterson and then Mack, kicking off the first phase of discomfort for the Strikers.
But Adams's six and the crucial singles followed by a nerves-of-steel boundary from Wellington in the final over finished things off for the Strikers.
There are a lot of lessons to be learnt for the Stars but the biggest reason for their defeat was their batting lineup. The Strikers batted well but were helped by the fact that even when they took too many dot balls the required run rate never went out of the reach.
19.4 Annabel Sutherland to Amanda Wellington, FOUR! WELLINGTON DOES THE JOB AND THE STRIKERS WIN! Short of a length and a tad wide outside off, moves away. Wellington stands tall and merely guides the ball wide of the fielder at short third to pick up a boundary! That will be that!
Amanda-Jade Wellington, RHB, comes to the crease
The scores are STILL level!
19.3 Annabel Sutherland to Annie O'Neil, BIG WICKET! SUTHERLAND DOES IT! At a length outside off, moves away a tad. O'Neil shapes up for the slog over mid on but does not get under the ball well enough. She ends up lobbing it wide of the fielder stationed there, but McKenna does extremely well to cling on to it!
Annie O'Neil c Rhys McKenna b Annabel Sutherland 0 (2b, 0x4, 0x6)
Direct hit would have been a gonner!
19.2 Annabel Sutherland to Madeline Penna, fullish and a tad wide outside off. Penna brings her bat down in time and pushes it to mid on. Sets off for a quick run!
19.1 Annabel Sutherland to Madeline Penna, back of a length and a tad wide outside off. Penna taps it towards wide of point.
Annabel Sutherland [1-0-18-0] comes back into the attack
TWO runs needed off the last six balls. Funnier things have happened in the sport. Adams was right in her strategy and now there's just a bit of nerves.