Rut continues for Taylor but Thunder end top of standings

SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor’s drought with the bat continued but Sydney Thunder edged Melbourne Stars by six runs to end the preliminary round on top of the Women’s Big Bash League here yesterday.

Playing at University Oval, Thunder produced a meek batting effort and were held to 104 for nine off their 20 overs.

Captain Alex Blackwell got 31 from 39 deliveries while Nicola Carey struck 20 from 24 balls. The pair added 29 for the fourth wicket after Thunder slipped to 37 for three in the ninth over.

One of the three wickets to fall was that of Taylor who failed to score for the third time since the start of the year. She has now scraped together just 27 runs from her last seven outings.

Left-armer Mornal Nielson finished with three for 26.

In reply, Stars were restricted to 98 for eight off their 20 overs thanks to fast bowler Rene Farrell, who was superb in taking four for 18 from her four overs.

Wicketkeeper Emma Inglis top-scored with 32 from 34 deliveries.

At Hurstville Oval, teenaged West Indies batsman Hayley Matthews stroked an unbeaten 17 from 12 balls but her Hobart Hurricanes went down to Sydney Sixers by two wickets.

Batting first, Hurricanes reached 126 for four off 20 overs with Amy Satterthwaite hitting a top score of 35 from 29 balls and opener and captain Heather Knight chipping in with 33 from 34 deliveries.

Entering the contest in the 17th over, Matthews struck a six in her small cameo to help Hurricanes end strongly.

However, Sara McGlashan then unfurled a superb, unbeaten 79 off 58 balls with three fours and four sixes to propel Sixers to their target off the last ball of the innings.

Despite the loss, Hurricanes qualified for the semi-finals by finishing second in the standings on 16 points, two behind Thunder.