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Adelaide Strikers opener Sophie Devine belts five consecutive sixes and sets records books alight

WATCH: Star all-rounder Sophie Devine entered the record books after belting five consecutive sixes in an extraordinary batting display that helped take Adelaide Strikers back to the top of the WBBL.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Sophie Devine of the Adelaide Strikers plays a shot during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Adelaide Strikers and the Melbourne Stars at Karen Rolton Oval on November 10, 2019 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Sophie Devine of the Adelaide Strikers plays a shot during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Adelaide Strikers and the Melbourne Stars at Karen Rolton Oval on November 10, 2019 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/Getty Images)

Big-hitting Adelaide Strikers opener Sophie Devine belted an extraordinary five consecutive sixes in a highly-productive final over of the WBBL match against Melbourne Stars that had to be seen to be believed.

The New Zealand international set a record for the highest number of runs hit in a single WBBL over as the Strikers grabbed a 17-run win.

The swinging bat of Devine – and a single to middle-order batter Katie Mack – notched up an eye-watering 31 runs from the final over to push the Strikers to 4-164.

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Sophie Devine cuts loose against the Stars.
Sophie Devine cuts loose against the Stars.

To put into perspective just how incredible this final over was, Devine had chalked up her half-century in the 19th over and amazingly, by the end of the 20th, she was only 15 runs shy of her century.

Her unbeaten 85 from 56 balls was built with six shots that hit the rope and a further five that cleared it.

T20 cricket is all about moments and two of the biggest moments occurred in the second and third overs when Devine was twice dropped by Mignon du Preez: firstly when she was on one and then the following over when she was on four.

This second time, Devine was so sure she was out, she turned her head as soon as she’d struck it and then started walking off the pitch. But the ball tumbled from du Preez’s hands and Devine’s opening partner Suzie Bates called her back.

But momentum is a funny thing and in reply the Melbourne Stars wrestled it back thanks to the bats of opener Lizelle Lee and du Preez (who came in after Stars captain Villani was out for one in the second over, caught off Devine’s bowling).

Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine helped get the job done for the Strikers.
Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine helped get the job done for the Strikers.

Lee and du Preez piled on the runs and both reached their quick-fire half-centuries to tick the runs over, with Strikers bowlers being pummeled across the oval.

A wicket was desperately needed, and it took Mack – playing against her old side – to have Lee (52 from 41 balls) caught on the boundary.

Amanda-Jade Wellington then had Erin Osbourne caught-and-bowled for a duck in the next over before Bates trapped Katey Martin (7 from 6) leg before in the following over and the Strikers had taken three wickets.

With the Stars needing 31 runs from 15 balls, Wellington had du Preez stumped after a spectacular innings of 70 from 51 and then found herself on a hat-trick when new batter Madeline Penna was also stumped by keeper Tegan McPharlin.

But the day was Devine’s and she walked away with well-earned player of the match accolades. She followed up her performance with the bat by taking 2-19 from her four overs, and the Strikers are back on top of the WBBL05 ladder.

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/swoop/adelaide-strikers-opener-sophie-devine-belts-five-consecutive-sixes-and-sets-records-books-alight/news-story/fcafd6654086e5ae06fc7cd6fc7d5a21