WBBL decider: Sydney Thunder demolish Melbourne Stars in grand final fizzer

Sydney Thunder spearhead Shabnim Ismail’s blistering spell of bowling split Melbourne Stars open and led her team to the WBBL06 title.

Sydney Thunder are WBBL06 champions.

Rachael Haynes’ side obliterated their underdog tag, demolishing favourites the Melbourne Stars by seven wickets on Saturday night.

Stars skipper Meg Lanning will rue her decision to bat first, after Thunder bowlers

Sammy-Jo Johnson (2-11) and Shabnim Ismail (2-12) attacked early and limited the Stars to a measly 86 runs – the WBBL team’s second lowest total in history and the lowest total in a WBBL final.

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Shabnim Ismail was the gamebreaker for the Thunder, snaring the Stars’ best bats in Villani and Lanning. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We just thought our batting line up was in really good form, we backed ourselves to get a decent score,” a devastated Lanning said.

“We put them under pressure, got a couple wickets, if we’d have got a decent score we could have put them under pressure.

“Thunder bowled exceptionally well, Ismail and Sammy-Jo Johnson were too good for us, really.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t get it done tonight and it was very disappointing given we’ve had such a good disappointment. It was very hard to take.”

Heather Knight’s massive six to win it was the game’s ‘drop bat’ moment. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The word “underdog” got thrown around a lot ahead of the big dance.

Some questioned whether Thunder’s young squad would rise to the occasion – especially against Meg Lanning’s exceptional and in-form Stars.

How wrong they were.

Australian vice-captain Haynes – who is no underdog – and the Thunder did exactly what they’ve been doing all season: they bowled their way to victory.

Bowlers Sammy-Jo Johnson and Shabnim Ismail absolutely terrorised their opponents with swing and pace across the opening overs.

After a nervous Tammy Beaumont dropped Meg Lanning on 0, Ismail seized control of the game early.

The South African international took the big wicket of Elyse Vilanni (1 from 11) in the third over, thanks to the reliable hands of her Haynes.

The Thunder dropped another of catches... Picture: Getty Images

...But they also took some screamers. Picture: Getty Images

“The partnership in the bowling (with Johnson), you could see them under pressure all the way,” Ismail said.

“You knew when the first three wickets fell in the power play, we were getting ahead.”

Johnson then dismissed Mignon du Preez (4 from 11) with an LBW and Ismail took the other big wicket – Melbourne skipper Lanning (13 from 15).

The Stars were rattled – sitting on 22/3 in the seventh over – and wickets continued to roll.

Youngster Annabel Sutherland tried her best to salvage the innings, but leg-spinner Lauren Smith sent her for 20 runs.

Despite dropping six catches, Thunder limited the Stars to a below par 86-run total.

Melbourne fought until the end but ultimately couldn’t recover from Thunder’s early bowling attack.

Melbourne superstar Meg Lanning was unable to produce any heroics with the bat. Picture: Getty Images

THE MOMENT

Thunder’s Heather Knight belted a six to win the WBBL06 final and had the 1633 spectators at North Sydney Oval on their feet.

It was a spectacular finish to what has been arguably the most challenging and exciting WBBL competition to date.

“What a performance by the bowlers today,” Heather Knight said.

“We’ll take the credit as the batters to hit the winning runs, but they were the stars of the evening.

“It was amazing to be a part of.”

THE SPELL

Haynes’ decision to send South African quick Ismail in to bowl early ultimately won Thunder the match.

Ismail quickly took the wickets of Villani and Lanning – one of the WBBL’s best opening partnerships – and the Stars never recovered. She finished on an outstanding 2-12 from four overs.

“She’s (Ismail) been brilliant for us, probably the last six or seven games,” Beaumont said.

“She’s been challenged to take more wickets upfront and if we could catch off her bowling she’d probably be leading wicket taker.”

THE KNOCK

Rachel Trenaman (23 off 26) bashed five 4s before she was dismissed by Tess Flintoff. The youngster’s opening knock was short and sweet, but it set the tone for Thunder’s chase. Haynes and Knight had no problems finishing it off with the bat.

THE QUOTE

“Last night I was actually lying in bed, thinking, ‘how am I going to get Meg Lanning out?’ She was a very key wicket.” — Shabnim Ismail.