Heather Knight’s unbeaten 54 and a rapid 16-ball 35 from Laura Harris ensured Sydney Thunder breezed past Brisbane Heat by six wickets at the Drummoyne Oval on Sunday (November 1).

Chasing a total of 179, the Thunder got home with 20 balls to spare with former England captain Knight steering the innings after a rapid 41 from Phoebe Litchfield got them off to a brisk start in the Powerplay, despite Georgia Voll falling cheaply. Litchfield struck six fours and a six in her 19-ball stay before falling to an excellent Orla Prendergast catch off the last ball of the Powerplay.

Knight and Anika Learoyd then shared a 63-run partnership where the boundaries kept coming at regular intervals, ensuring that Thunder were always on par with the asking rate. Once Learoyd fell for 37, Laura Harris kept the momentum going with a flurry of fours and sixes, shutting the door on the Heat. Knight soon got to a 27-ball fifty with consecutive boundaries and while Laura Harris fell to Lily Bassingthwaighte, Nadine de Klerk hit the winning four to seal a comfortable win.

Earlier in the day, Brisbane Heat rode on half-centuries from Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne to post 178 for 5 after electing to bat first. Both batters began slowly before stepping on the gas with Heat in need of a thrust after the eighth over. Redmayne struck two fours off de Klerk to release some pressure, while Grace Harris soon raced away with a host of boundaries, reaching her fifty off 32 balls. Harris and Yastika Bhatia fell within quick succession to Voll, but Prendergast chipped in with a brisk 28 while Redmayne picked up pace herself. But Thunder did well to not concede a whole lot in the final couple of overs, limiting Heat to what eventually proved to be a below-par total.

Brief Scores: Brisbane Heat Women 178/5 in 20 overs (Grace Harris 58, Georgia Redmayne 57; Georgia Voll 2-25) lost to Sydney Thunder Women 180/4 in 16.4 overs (Heather Knight 54*, Phoebe Litchfield 41, Laura Harris 35; Lily Bassingthwaighte 2-34) by six wickets.