Women’s Big Bash League: Beth Mooney guides Brisbane Heat to maiden WBBL title

Australia wicketkeeper-batswoman Beth Mooney’s skillful innings helped Brisbane Heat to clinch their maiden Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) title at the Drummoyne Oval in Sydney on Saturday.

Bowling efforts of Delissa Kimmince (2/25) and Grace Harris (3/23) assisted the Heat to wrap up hosts Sixers for 131 for the loss of seven wickets.

Although Harris failed with the bat, opener Mooney powered to add 84 for the third wicket with her skipper Kirby Short in hot and testing conditions.

Mooney brought up her fifty in just 35 deliveries, which included nine boundaries, before departing for 65, while Short pitched in with 29.

No other Heat batswoman got to double figures, as they slipped from 98/2 to 126/7. With just four runs needed off five balls, Laura Harris walloped the ball to the boundary to seal a memorable three-wicket victory over two-time champions Sydney Sixers.

Mooney, who was adjudged Player of the Final, said: “I just told myself we need to stay in the middle and we needed a good partnership. Kirby and I generally do a good job of that. The team has been really amazing. Several of them have come out of their shells and it has been a great pleasure to watch them evolve.”

Ellyse Perry, on the other hand, was declared Player of the Tournament for amassing 744 at an average of 93 and scalping 10 wickets. Short heaped praises on Sixers skipper Perry for making it a great contest.