A STELLAR and very composed partnership from Bridget Patterson and Madeline Penna has seen the Adelaide Strikers defeat the Brisbane Heat and win through to tomorrow’s WBBL final.

Needing 23 runs off the last two overs, Patterson and then Penna went bang and ensured the home side got the win.

Brisbane won the bat flip and elected to have a bat first. It did not prove to be a fruitful decision early, with the Heat struggling at 2/13 within three overs. Things did improve from there, with 30 to 40 run partnerships a feature for much of the rest of the innings. However, the Heat just kept losing wickets, but did finish on a very competitive 8/154 off their 20 overs.

Amelia Kerr was the star with the bat for the Heat, finishing with an innings of 43. Meanwhile for the Strikers it was Megan Schutt (3/26) and Deandra Dottin (2/29) that were the pick of the bowlers.

The Strikers’ chase got off to an equally as bad start, losing their first wicket at 1/7. After a few more early wobbles, the Strikers kept building, but it was looking more and more likely that the match was going to go down to the wire.

Brisbane was its own worst enemy at times in the field, dropping several catching chances to dismiss Laura Wolvaardt in particular. It was ultimately decided with two balls left in Adelaide innings, but Patterson and Penna scored several boundaries in the previous nine deliveries to ensure the Strikers were even in with a shot of winning.

It was Wolvaardt who top scored for Adelaide with 47, followed by Patterson on 45 not out. For Adelaide, this win sees them progress through to tomorrow night’s Final in Sydney against the Sixers.

For the Heat their season comes to an end in a disappointing fashion, but they progressed one game further than they did in WBBL07.