THE HOBART Hurricanes emerged as the first ever T20 Spring Challenge champions after a five-wicket win from the last ball.

The Player of the Match was the Hurricanes batter Lizelle Lee, who hit 63 runs from 47 deliveries, which included 10 fours and two sixes. In Hobart’s pursuit of the Heat’s 133 total, Lee got her side off to a good start, if not for some of her partners in the middle overs.

Opening with her, Ruth Johnston was stumped by Georgia Redmayne off the bowling Charli Knott, dismissed for just six off seven balls. Experienced all-rounder Nicola Carey (five off seven) followed suit, then Elyse Villani (11 off 18) and Tabatha Saville (five off eight) went after not turning over the scoreboard enough.

When Hobart required a run-a ball 44, Brisbane were in the contest up to their eyeballs before the unbeaten partnership of Emma Manix-Geeves (28 off 22) and Molly Strano (10 off 12) won the game. The former hitting the winning run off Heat youngster Sianna Ginger who had just three to defend from the twentieth over.

In the first innings, the Heat were restricted to just 133 runs, which seemed like it would be easier to chase than it was in the end. With some powerful hitters in the line-up, the Hurricanes bowlers were on song.

Brisbane’s issue was that most batters got starts but were unable to capitalise and go on with their innings. Ginger top scored with 24 off 21, which illustrates the continuous flow of wickets that the Hurricanes managed to take.

It was Strano and Johnston that were able to rip through the Heat batters. Strano took three wickets from her four overs, including the dangerous Laura Harris, Knott and Lucinda Bourke.

The Hurricanes’ Johnston was the leading wicket taker from the match, she took 4/20 off four overs, dismissing Ginger, Mikayla Wrigley, Nicola Hancock and Ruby Strange.