THE Brisbane Heat were too strong for Hobart last night, defeating the Hurricanes by 44 runs to win the WBBL Eliminator and progress through to The Challenger.

After the Hurricanes sent them in to bat, the Heat certainly were not waiting around to make something happen, smashing a 50-run opening partnership inside the Power Play.

An even bigger partnership of 54 runs in the third quarter of the innings ensured that whatever Brisbane did make was certainly going to be a task for the Hurricanes to take down.

And it was a big one in the end, as the Heat finished on a massive 7/179 after their 20 overs, and with the Hurricanes only conceding three extras the score all came from the work off the Heat’s bats.

Danni Wyatt and Laura Harris were the main damage doers with the willow, finishing with scores of 52 and 44 respectively.

Meanwhile Amy Smith was the star with the ball for the Hurricanes, picking up 3/21 off her four overs. Heather Graham also picked up two wickets from her four overs.

The Hurricane innings with the bat got off to an even better start than the Heat innings, with Lizelle Lee (47) and Elyse Villani (25) putting on a 61 run opening partnership.

But then once those two departed, Hobart’s scoring momentum really slowed, and in the end they were going nowhere near quick enough to reach the target in time.

On top of this, Jess Jonassen (4/23 from four overs) was on fire with the ball and there was some insane catching from Wyatt, Grace Harris and Jess Kerr.

Brisbane’s win sees them progress through to tonight’s Challenger final, where they will face Adelaide for the chance to progress through to the Final on Saturday night and face the Sydney Sixers.

Meanwhile Hobart’s season comes to an end after a short and sweet return to the finals for the first time in six years.