The Women's Big Bash League 2020 concluded on Saturday with Sydney Thunder thrashing the Melbourne Stars in the final to win the title for 2nd time.
Sydney Thunder on Saturday were crowned the champions of the Women`s Big Bash League (WBBL) for the second time. The side achieved the feat by defeating Melbourne Stars by seven wickets here at the North Sydney Oval. The match was a no-contest as Sydney Thunder restricted Melbourne Stars to just 86/9 in the allotted twenty overs. Thunder did not break a sweat in chasing down the total as the side achieved the target with 38 balls to spare. Sydney Thunder had won the inaugural edition of the WBBL in the 2015-16 season and then the side had to wait for four more years to win their second title. Ismail was declared the Player of the Match.
After the match, speaking about the title-winning campaign, Heather Knight said: "Credit to the bowlers, really chuffed about it. I`m really proud of all the senior players and the young players. We`ve been around the dressing room and got to know each other really well, played a lot of pranks. The younger players have done extremely well this season and I`m really proud of them." Sydney Thunder had finished the group stage at the third spot, and then the side outclassed Brisbane Heat in the second semi-final.
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Melbourne Stars were the top-ranked team in the Women's Big Bash League 2020 heading into the final while Sydney Thunder were in third place. Sydney Thunder outclassed two-time champions Brisbane Heat in the semi-final to make it to the final. Melbourne Stars, on the other hand, had one of the best limited overs player in the world in Meg Lanning and she was gunning to help Melbourne Stars win the WBBL title for the first time. Melbourne Stars won the toss and chose to bat in the final against Sydney Thunder. (Image credit: WBBL Twitter)
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Bowling first, Shabnim Ismail and Sammy-Jo Johnson scalped two wickets while all the other bowlers chipped in with one wicket each as Thunder restricted Stars to under the 90-run mark. For Stars, Katherine Brunt was the top-scorer as she played an unbeaten inning of 22 runs. Shabnim Ismal regularly touched close to 85 mph and in the big final, the South Africa pacer showed her worth. Sammy Jo-Johnson, who was part of the Brisbane Heat franchise earlier, joined Sydney Thunder this year and she had an impact. Melbourne Stars never recovered after they were reduced to 37/5. (Image credit: WBBL Twitter)
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Apart from Shabnim Ismail and Sammy Jo-Johnson, there was tremendous support from Heather Knight, Lauren Smith, Hannah Darlington and Samantha Bates as Melbourne Stars ended up on a woeful 86/9 in 20 overs. It was the lowest total in the finals of the WBBL and Sydney Thunder were already the favorites. (Image credit: WBBL Twitter)
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When the side came out to bat, Heather Knight played an unbeaten knock of 26 runs off just 19 balls to take her side over the line with five wickets in the bag.Knight found support in Rachael Haynes and the duo formed an unbeaten stand of 33 runs to win their second WBBL title.Thunder had won the inaugural edition of the WBBL in the 2015-16 season and then the side had to wait for four more years to win their second title. Ismail was declared the Player of the Match. (Image credit: WBBL Twitter)
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Sydney Thunder join the Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers as the other sides to have won the Women's Big Bash League title twice. Sydney Thunder had won the inaugural edition at the same time the men's team had won the Big Bash League. The Women's Big Bash League was conducted safely amidst the coronavirus pandemic and the final in New South Wales, the state with the least number of COVID19 cases, witnessed fans and there was tremendous celebration. (Image credit: WBBL Twitter)
