Heather Graham of the Perth Scorchers Women pulled off her best innings of the season, scoring 44 not out off 30 deliveries to tie the Women’s Big Bash League match against the Hobart Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Needing 17 runs off the final over, Graham crashed 16 runs off Heather Knight to earn her side a tie-breaker. Nicole Bolton then continued the battering to help the Scorchers to a thrilling win.
The Scorchers scored 16 runs off the extra over, with Bolton slashing 15 runs off the five balls she faced, including a huge six. In response, the Hurricanes could only scrape together eight runs as they lost two wickets.
Graham picked up the Player of the Match honours after also bowling superbly in the 20-over match, registering figures of 2-38 off her four overs, as well as bowling the deciding tie-breaking over.
In her innings of 44 not out she scored 28 runs off the last 12 balls she faced, including three fours as she helped squeeze the Scorchers into a tie-breaking spot.
READ ALSO: Mignon fires Stars to top of Big Bash log
Smriti Mandhana (38 runs off 23 balls), Erin Fazackerley (36 off 26) and Stefanie Daffara (31 off 29) all contributed at the top of the order to the Hurricanes’ 173-7 off their 20 overs, with Graham (2-38) and Nicole Bolton (3-20) impressing with the ball.
READ ALSO: Lizelle Lee’s spectacular ton gets Big Bash off to a flyer
Graham’s 44 not out and opener Elyse Villani’s 41 off 34 balls were the key contributions to the Scorchers matching the Hurricanes’ score, with Brooke Hepburn (2-22) and Sasha Maloney (2-26) picking up wickets for the Hurricanes.
Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
