Newcastle teenager Caoimhe Bray has made a stunning WBBL debut at just 15 years, claiming a wicket for the Sydney Sixers and striking the winning runs against Melbourne Renegades at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The youngster showed tremendous composure to overcome a nightmare start, belted for six with her first ball, before bowling West Indian star Deandra Dottin with the final ball of her only over.
Bray also bowled a wide and was struck for two fours before knocking over Dottin’s stumps with a superb yorker.
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The Year 9 student then showed skill with the bat, striking a boundary with her first scoring shot after coming into bat with the Sixers in trouble at 7/147.
Incredibly, she struck 12 runs off five balls and hit the winning runs — a boundary over cover.
The youngest of six children, Bray has also represented the Junior Matildas in international youth soccer, thus the comparisons with Sixers’ captain Ellyse Perry, who has played both sports for Australia.
15-year-old sensation takes debut wicket | 00:48
The challenging run chase provided a Perry exhibition with the superstar smashing a sensational 81 from 38 balls. The brilliant performance included three sixers and 11 fours.
Perry struck the side’s first 19 runs and had an opening partnership of 75 with Hollie Armittage.
With the veteran at the crease, the Sixers were cruising and had the game under control at 2/107 after 10 overs. They were still 3/121 when Perry became Georgia Wareham’s second of three wickets.
Wareham then dismissed Kate Peterson LBW, before catching Sophie Ecclestone to have the Sixers under the pump.
The Sixers have been hard hit by injury and Scottish wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce was among those brought into the line-up.
She made the most of her call up, being unbeaten on 36 runs from 25 balls in the Sixers’ 7/179.
Wareham showed why she was promoted to No. 3 for Australia at the World Cup, smashing 61 off 31 balls and belting four sixes and four fours in the process.
Forced to overcome serious knee injuries, Wareham was out on the final ball of the innings when she holed out on the off side after a mis-hit.
Wareham’s incredible batting enabled the Melbourne side to amass 8/178, with 94 runs scored off the final 10 overs.
The platform for the impressive total was established by a 58-run opening stand in 7.2 overs from Courtney Webb and Emma de Broughe.
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MEANWHILE, Brisbane Heat’s decision to overhaul its line-up for the 10th version of the WBBL has had an immediate impact.
The Heat showed up in style with bat and ball at Adelaide Oval on Sunday to conquer Adelaide Strikers in the season opener and reverse the result of last year’s title decider.
Batting all-rounder Charli Knott, missing her trademark pigtails, got the Heat home with 44 runs from 30 balls to be named player of the game.
Indian strikepower
Indian international Shikha Pandey created an immediate impression to provide the Heat with strike power with the ball.
The veteran, who has three Tests and 62 T20 appearances for India on her resume, constantly tested the Strikers’ top order and finished with 2/14 in a terrific WBBL debut.
The Heat had three debutants, although youngsters Grace Parsons and Sianna Ginger won’t reflect on their first stints with the ball with too many fond memories.
Lismore-raised Parsons, who bowls right arm, but throws the ball with her left arm, conceded 18 of her 27 runs off one of her three overs.
It was a shaky debut for Ginger with the Townsville youngster having 20 runs taken off her only over. She also dropped a high ball catch on the final ball of the Strikers innings.
WBBL officially launched for 10th season | 02:53
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt came into the tournament on the back of a terrific T20 World Cup, leading her country to the final as the leading run getter.
But the Strikers’ opener should have been out in the first over for a duck when she was put down by Heat’s Grace Harris.
The dropped chance didn’t prove costly, however, and Wolvaardt was dismissed in the third over for only five runs when caught driving in the air.
Australian vice-captain Tahlia McGrath did the damage with the bat for the Strikers, belting 51 from 41 balls, including a six and five fours.
The WBBL is celebrating its 10th anniversary and two players who played in the first season were involved in a remarkable moment during the Heat innings.
Heat opening bat Grace Harris was in total control with 29 runs from 25 balls, before being dismissed by a spectacular effort from Jemma Barsby.
In her first over, Barsby dived to her left to hold on to a low down chance. Barsby was a teammate with Harris at the Heat in the competition’s first season.
— NCA NewsWire
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