WBBL: Burns leads Sixers win over Heat

SYDNEY: Sydney Sixers, who were playing their second game against Brisbane Heat on the second consecutive day, were able to inflict the same result by restricting Heat to just 126 in their 145-run chase on Friday.

With this victory they remain atop the points table sharing the same number of points as Sydney Thunder but from two more games. Erin Burns led the Sixers with a quick 39-ball fifty that helped Sixers resurrect their innings following regular wickets around her.

Opting to bat first, Sixers got off to a lousy start losing their top scorer from Thursday’s game - Alyssa Healy for a golden duck. Skipper Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner got together in a 32-run stand before Perry went on to stitch another brief partnership with No. 4 batter Burns to put the team back on course.

But following Perry’s dismissal in the ninth over, Burns never got enough support from the others. She, however, managed to break the shackles every time her team got into a shell, and that was testified by the three sixes she hit in her innings. She raised her fifty in the 19th over as she saw Sixers through to 144 for 7.

Heat got off to a similar start, losing their opener Beth Mooney for a duck. Marizanne Kapp and Gardner then didn’t allow Heat to get off the mat, bowling tidy lines. Power-hitter Deandra Dottin kept breaking the shackles though with a boundary at least every over, although the rest of the over remained unusually quiet. Dottin and Kirby Short fell in back-to-back overs and by that time, Heat were already behind the nine ball. Jess Jonassen got off to a busy start getting timely hits to go beyond the fence but lack of urgency from the other end bogged her down. With 45 needed off the final four, the duo of Kapp and Gardner returned for their final spell, and with some help from Lauren Smith, confined Heat to just 126 in their 20 overs.

Brief Scores: Sydney Sixers 144/7 in 20 overs (Erin Burns 54*; Delissa Kimmince 3-23). Brisbane Heat 126/4 in 20 overs (Jess Jonassen 55*; Lauren Smith 1-13, Marizanne Kapp 1-17).