Five reasons the best sporting action you’ll see this weekend will be at Karen Rolton Oval
Don’t miss any of the action when the WBBL’s Big Weekend rolls into town, with Karen Rolton Oval hosting three big bash games this weekend featuring Strikers, Scorchers, Stars and Thunder.
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It’s Adelaide’s turn to host the blockbuster WBBL Big Weekend, with four teams rolling into town on Saturday to play three games of Big Bash cricket.
Karen Rolton Oval will host some of the world’s best cricketers representing the Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder.
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With the competition reaching its midpoint this weekend and congestion at the top of the WBBL ladder, here’s why you should come watch:
STRIKERS ARE SITTING SECOND
Adelaide’s been playing some exciting cricket of late, currently sitting pretty on 4-2 win-loss and second on the ladder only just behind Sydney Thunder. Apart from their batting line-up that has showed incredible depth (Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Tahlia McGrath and Bridget Patterson have all made half-centuries), it’s the Strikers bowlers who have been on fire.
Of the current top 10 wicket-takers across the WBBL this season, three of them are Strikers: Megan Schutt, Sarah Coyte and Devine have all taken seven wickets and are listed as No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 in the top 10). That’s more than any of the other eight teams, and no other team apart from Hobart Hurricanes with two, have multiple bowlers in the top 10.
MEG LANNING’S IN TOWN
The Australian Women’s Cricket captain doesn’t just lead the national team, she also captains Perth Scorchers. The 27-year-old power-hitter proved the match winner for the Scorchers last weekend when she hit a six off the final ball of the innings against the Melbourne Renegades.
The Strikers and Scorchers will be facing off for the Faith Thomas Trophy, named after the fast bowler who became the first Aboriginal woman to represent Australia in any team sport when she played a Test match in 1958.
LADY BOOM BOOM
Nida Dar is Sydney Thunder’s star recruit and the first Pakistani to play in the WBBL.
Nicknamed “Lady Boom Boom” for her ability to whack the ball, she is currently the ICC’s No. 7 ranked allrounder in the world. South Australians get very little chance to see cricketers like Dar in action and the 32-year-old is one of the reasons the Thunder are sitting atop the WBBL ladder.
BIG HITS GUARANTEED
Get ready for what promises to be a real “big bash”. Striker Devine and Melbourne Stars opener Lizelle Lee are sitting on top of the 2019 WBBL stats for the most sixes scored in a game, with both on four. Devine has hit four sixes in an innings twice already. Throw in Suzie Bates (the ICC’s world No. 1 ranked T20 batter), new Striker Lauren “Moose” Winfield who’s nickname talks up her long shots (and was this week named captain of the Northern Superchargers in the upcoming Hundred) and Stars captain Elyse Villani, whose quick-fire 59 last weekend included eight boundaries, and this will make for entertaining cricket.
THERE’S LOTS OF ACTION OFF-FIELD TOO
Not only will Father Christmas headline Saturday’s entertainment – fresh from the Christmas Pageant – but on both days there will be a “BOUNCE zone” for the kids, that includes giant airbags and trampolines, as well as face-painting, giveaways and food trucks.
WBBL’S BIG WEEKEND IN ADELAIDE
Saturday, November 9: Strikers v Scorchers, 1.40pm.
Sunday, November 10: Scorchers v Thunder, 10am; Strikers v Stars, 1.40pm.
* All games are at Karen Rolton Oval, corner West Tce and Port Rd, city.
Paid parking available off Port Rd. Entry to games is free.