England women skipper Charlotte Edwards’ form continued for Perth Scorchers in the Women’s Big Bash League until an injury stopped her in her tracks.
The 36-year-old, having recently struck 61 in both victories over Melbourne Stars, showed her class again as she moved into third place in the competition’s run charts with 366.
She carried her bat for a destructive unbeaten 88 off just 66 deliveries against top-of-the-table Sydney Thunder and, after a 21-ball 14 on New Year’s Eve, was going nicely on 41 from 31 deliveries the following day before retiring hurt with a slight hip flexor strain.
All three matches ended in defeats for the Scorchers, who now have two weeks of inactivity after playing six games in as many days, the last two of which came at the hands of Sarah Taylor’s Adelaide Strikers.
Taylor propelled her franchise to a 35-run victory in the first clash, hitting 48 off 37 balls from the top of the order, but could not back that up on New Year’s Day when she was bowled by Katherine Brunt for two.
England vice-captain Heather Knight impressed with both bat and ball for Hobart Hurricanes, who sit in second place behind the Thunder despite losing three of their last four matches.
Knight started 2016 by hitting 25 off 27 balls, taking 2-8 from three overs and running out international team-mate Lauren Winfield for 19 in a comfortable triumph over Brisbane Heat.
She also contributed a 32-ball 26 and claimed 1-16 from four overs in a narrow loss to Sydney Thunder before more economical figures – 1-8 off three – failed to prevent the Heat from gaining revenge.
Danielle Wyatt rose to the occasion in the Melbourne derby, producing two impressive all-round performances.
The 24-year-old kept her cool to ensure the Renegades chased 86 from the penultimate delivery with a run-a-ball 23, having conceded just nine runs from two overs of her off-spin.
But despite hitting 25 off 32 deliveries and returning figures of 1-19 from four overs, she could not help the Renegades do the double as the Stars, for whom Natalie Sciver bowled economically, bounced back with an eight-run win the following day.
Source: ECB