ADELAIDE, Australia, CMC – West Indies players Hayley Matthews and Stacy-Ann King played minor roles but still managed to help their franchises to victory in the inaugural
Women’s Big Bash on New Year’s Day.
At the Adelaide Oval, King scored 23 from 21 deliveries as Adelaide Strikers chased down 137 to score a six-wicket win over Perth Scorchers, featuring West Indies batsman Deandra Dottin.
The right-handed King stroked three boundaries and anchored two key small partnerships which built the foundation for the successful run chase.
Strikers lost Sarah Taylor for two to the third ball of the innings with two runs on the board but King added 36 for the second wicket with Bridget Patterson (18) and a further 25 for the third wicket with Sarah Coyte who finished on a top score of 52 not out off 38 deliveries.
Shelly Nitschke, who struck 24, put on 61 for the fourth wicket with Coyte in a partnership which sealed victory in the penultimate over.
Earlier, opener Charlotte Edwards struck 41 before retiring hurt while captain Nicole Bolton struck 37, to guide Scorchers up to 136 for six off their 20 overs.
Dottin continued her run of low scores when she was dismissed for just nine.
In Hobart, Matthews struck 22 off 25 balls as Hobart Hurricanes defeated Brisbane Heat by 30 runs at Bellerive Oval.
Batting at the top of the order, the 17-year-old Matthews struck two fours and a six in helping to lift Hobart Hurricanes up to 130 for five off their 20 overs, after they opted to bat first.
She put on 32 for the first wicket with captain Heather Knight, who scored 25, and 24 for the second wicket with Corinne Hall who finished unbeaten on 39.
In reply, Heat were dismissed for 97 in the penultimate over.