WBBL round-up: Kerr, McGrath and Blackwell master the chase

Amelia Kerr played a gem of an innings to help the Brisbane Heat come through a tricky chase against the Hobart Hurricanes with one ball to spare at Allan Border Field. The Heat fell to 5 for 82 in the 15th over chasing 124 but Kerr hit 29 off 19 balls while the in-form Beth Mooney provided the anchor with an unbeaten 44. The key over came with the Heat needing 29 off 18 balls and Kerr took four boundaries off Belinda Vakarewa. The stuffing was knocked out of the Hurricanes' innings when Jess Jonassen took three wickets in four balls in the 15th over but Heather Knight (61 not out) played a superb hand to nurse them to 123 which almost proved enough.

Tahlia McGrath hit a dominant, unbeaten 65 off 46 balls to lead the Adelaide Strikers to a convincing seven-wicket victory over the Perth Scorchers. Chasing 116 after an impressive all-round bowling display, the Strikers were unsteady at 3 for 22 in the third over with Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates dismissed in the first seven balls of the innings. However, McGrath, who struck eight fours and two sixes, took charge and alongside Lauren Winfield the pair knocked off the runs with more than five overs to spare. Megan Schutt had set a superb tone with the ball when she started with consecutive maidens and the wicket of Amy Jones. Yesterday, Jones and Lanning added 129 for the first wicket against the Brisbane Heat but here they made just seven between them with Lanning bowled by Devine in her first over. Sarah Coyte backed up the early wickets with 3 for 18 off her four overs.

The experienced Alex Blackwell guided the Sydney Thunder home in a thriller at Bankstown Oval to keep the Melbourne Stars winless. Blackwell made 45 not out from 36 balls and timed the chase to perfection. The Thunder had stumbled to 6 for 108 after Madeline Penna took 4 for 20 for the Stars. They needed 34 to win from the last 20 balls but Blackwell struck two fours and two sixes to get them home with two balls to spare with the support of Rene Farrell. The Stars have lost four from four to start the season despite Elyse Villani and Lizelle Lee both scoring half-centuries as they posted 5 for 141. Farrell was outstanding with the ball taking 1 for 18 from her four overs.