The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2026 season continued with a double-header at Drummoyne Oval, where Sydney Thunder took on Brisbane Heat in the first match before Sydney Sixers faced Hobart Hurricanes. Both Sydney teams produced impressive performances to secure victories and strengthen their starts to the campaign.
Thunder chased down a target of 179 to win by six wickets, while the Sixers recovered from an early batting collapse to post 196/8 before bowling out the Hurricanes for 109. Heather Knight and Ashleigh Gardner were the standout performers for their respective teams.
Heather Knight guides Sydney Thunder to a six-wicket win over Brisbane Heat
Brisbane Heat posted 178/5 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Grace Harris top-scored with 58 off 37 balls, while Georgia Redmayne contributed 57 off 44 deliveries. The pair added 99 runs for the second wicket to put Heat in a strong position. Orla Prendergast chipped in with 28 off 20 balls as the visitors registered the highest WBBL total at Drummoyne Oval.
In reply, Sydney Thunder chased down the target in 16.4 overs, finishing at 180/4. Phoebe Litchfield provided a quick start with 41 off 19 balls, while Anika Learoyd scored 37 off 28 deliveries. Knight anchored the chase with an unbeaten 54 off 29 balls, and Laura Harris added 35 off just 16. Thunder secured a six-wicket victory with 20 balls remaining to make it two wins from two matches.
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Ashleigh Gardner’s record-breaking century powers Sydney Sixers to victory
Sydney Sixers suffered an early collapse after being put in to bat, losing three wickets for just six runs inside the first three overs. However, captain Ashleigh Gardner turned the innings around with a remarkable 124 off just 60 balls, including 10 fours and nine sixes. She shared a record-breaking 176-run fourth-wicket partnership with Alice Capsey, who remained unbeaten on 54 off 40 deliveries, as the Sixers recovered to post 196/8.
Hobart Hurricanes struggled in the chase and were bowled out for 109 in 17.4 overs. Gardner picked up three wickets for 23 runs, while Amelia Kerr also claimed 3/25. Maddy Green scored an unbeaten 42 off 33 balls and Chinelle Henry contributed 32 off 20, but the Hurricanes fell well short of the target. The Sixers secured an 87-run victory, with Gardner earning the Player of the Match award for her all-round performance.
Comprehensive victory 💖
The Sydney Sixers put up a massive 196/8 and bundle out the Hobart Hurricanes for 109 🙌#WBBL #SydneySixers pic.twitter.com/EUU5nQjwsT
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) November 1, 2026
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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