Alyssa stars in Sixers WBBL win

SYDNEY: Alyssa Healy’s 43-ball 70 and Sarah Aley’s three-wicket haul ensured Sydney Sixers overcame Brisbane Heat by nine runs in a hard-fought WBBL game played on Thursday. Heat slid from 94 for no loss to 151 all out while chasing down 161.

At the start of the 13th over, Heat were well placed having lost no wickets. Beth Mooney, the wicketkeeper-batter, compiled a fine 60 while Kirby Short (35) gave her good support, but Tim Garth opened the floodgates by dismissing the latter. Seven runs later, Heat suffered another blow when Mooney fell to legspin of Dane van Niekerk.

Once Mooney was dismissed, Aley, the medium pacer, ran through the rest of the batting line-up as Heat lost their way. Deandra Dottin (18) was the only other batter to reach double figures. In the final over, Heat had two wickets in hand and needed 13 runs to register a memorable win. Marizanne Kapp, however, dislodged Jemma Barsby, while Holly Ferling was run out as Heat were bundled out off the final ball of their allotted 20 overs.

Earlier, Healy had provided the platform for Sixers’ total with an enterprising hand at the top of the order. She cracked nine fours and one six in her innings.

Brief scores: Sydney Sixers 160/5 in 20 overs (Alyssa Healy 70, Dane van Niekerk 44*; Grace Harris 2-22) beat Brisbane Heat 151 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 60; Sarah Aley 3-31).