WBBL: Two batters run out in the same spectacular fashion in Adelaide

The highlights keep flowing from the WBBL including two nearly identical run-outs which had to be seen to be believed.

The Mankad debate may be running rampant in cricket but two WBBL openers found their own way to get run out at the non-strikers end in stunning fashion, hours apart, on Thursday.

A double-header at Karen Rolton Oval was highlighted by a stunning innings from Sydney Sixers veteran Erin Burns, who belted 71 off just 38 balls to nearly snatch an unimaginable win as the Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers netted crucial victories.

But the teachable moments from the two games should ensure Grace Harris and Deandre Dottin never leave their crease early again.

In the opening match in Adelaide, Heat and Australian batter Harris could only shake her head after a stunning effort from Melbourne Renegades’ West Indian impart Hayley Matthews left her stranded.

Harris backed up too far, in a fashion which has become a target for bowlers around the world, and was out of her ground when a straight shot from her batting partner, Georgia Voll, was parried, more out of good luck than good management, by Matthews, who was bowling, back on to the stumps.

Run out at the non-striker's! 😵

Grace Harris has to depart and the Heat are 3 down ☝️ #WBBL08pic.twitter.com/7KAeYVM5N8

— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 21, 2022

But while lighting’s not supposed to strike twice, it did in Adelaide, with Strikers West Indian opener Dottin succumbing to the same fate a matter of hours later.

This time it was the outstretched left-hand of desperate Sydney Sixers bowler Lauren Cheatle deflecting a ball, hit back down the middle of the pitch from Katie Mack, which rocketed in to the stumps at the non-strikers end.

Twice in one day?! 😵😵 ANOTHER non-striker run out via deflection! #WBBL08pic.twitter.com/qEmO7Dxd36

— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 21, 2022

The second match turned into a thriller as the Strikers nearly bottled the final over in pursuit of a first win for the season as Burns went on a six-spree.

Unbeaten after their opening three matches, the Sixers needed 20 off the final six balls to keep their streak going and, bowling in a hat, Strikers spinner Gemma Barsby nearly handed it to them.

Burns smashed two sixes, ran two twos and was dropped in the outfield before holing out with her team needing just four runs from the final two balls to win.

With one last chance to swat a boundary, Barsby had Angelina Genford stumped as the Strikers avoided snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Erin Burns of the Sydney Sixers (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

Earlier a dirty day in Adelaide for Brisbane Heat captain Jess Jonassen, which also included a dropped catch, was made up for by the performance of key teammates in a second WBBL win in three days over the Melbourne Renegades.

Jonassen, the No.2 T20 bowler in the world, has gone wicketless and for 63 runs in the past two games against the Gades, including being belted for 31 off just two overs on Friday.

But her efforts against the red team were the exception to an otherwise steady rule of wins with Brisbane’s 26-run win at Karen Rolton Oval not only a second in three days against them, but a fifth win in the past six clashes.

Heat import and English batting star Danni Wyatt made just five in her first appearance and instead Georgia Voll whacked 52 off just 37 balls to help Brisbane reach 8-163, a target the Gades never look like getting after failing to 2-9 and then 3-15.

Renegades batter Courtney Webb took her average through th eopeing three matches to 86 as she scored a team-high, and unbeaten 47 but was one of just three batters to reach double-figures as her team was bowled out in the 19th over.

In better news for the Renegades they have have signed Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu for the remainder of the WBBL as an overseas replacement player for Indian star Harmanpreet Kaur.

Originally published as WBBL: Two batters run out in the same spectacular fashion in Adelaide