WBBL 2021: Shafali Verma shines in fielding, Alyssa Healy powers Sydney Sixers to 6-wicket victory over Melbourne Stars – Alyssa Healy smashed a rollicking half-century as the Sydney Sixers opened the women’s Twenty20 Big Bash League with a six-wicket win with four balls to spare over the Melbourne Stars Thursday.
Chasing down the Stars’ 99 for one in a match shortened to 11 overs a side due to rain, the Sixers lost Indian opener Shafali Verma for eight before Healy took charge at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.
WBBL 2021: The Australian wicketkeeper smashed 11 boundaries in her 57 off 27 balls before falling late in the game.
Despite skipper Ellyse Perry also departing soon after for seven, Nicole Bolton (seven not out) and Angela Reakes (three not out) steered them home.
WBBL 2021: Shafali Verma shines in fielding, Alyssa Healy powers Sydney Sixers to 6-wicket victory over Melbourne Stars
Also read: WBBL 2021-22: Sydney Sixers sign Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav for upcoming WBBL
The win opened the seventh season of a tournament rapidly growing in popularity, with all 59 matches being broadcast this year for the first time.
But it has been a rocky ride again with the first 20 games all being played in Tasmania state due to ongoing Covid-related travel restrictions in Australia.
Last season the entire tournament was played in a Sydney hub.
WBBL 2021: While some top international names are missing, a big drawcard this year is the Indian contingent with eight players who recently toured Australia with the national team staying on.
They include Verma, Poonam Yadav (Brisbane Heat), Harmanpreet Kaur (Melbourne Renegades), Richa Ghosh (Hobart Hurricanes), and Smriti Mandhana (Sydney Thunder).
WBBL 2021: Shafali Verma shines in fielding, Alyssa Healy powers Sydney Sixers to 6-wicket victory over Melbourne Stars
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