Brisbane Heat end Sydney Sixers' reign with thrilling win

Heat star Beth Mooney was on the verge of vomiting as she produced a courageous innings to deliver Brisbane its first Women's Big Bash League championship.

Heat star Beth Mooney was on the verge of vomiting as she produced a courageous innings to deliver Brisbane its first Women's Big Bash League championship on Saturday.

 

Mooney's 65 from 46 balls proved to be the difference as the Heat claimed a thrilling last-over victory against the star-studded Sydney Sixers at Drummoyne Oval.

The Heat's first WBBL title stopped the Sixers from claiming a third straight crown in front of a sold-out crowd of 5368.

Mooney battled heat exhaustion and the lingering effects of an illness to guide the Heat to a memorable victory against the odds.

The Heat celebrate victory in the WBBL final. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

“It was pretty oppressive conditions out there and I haven’t been that well the last couple of weeks," Mooney said.

“I had a bit of a flu heading into the semis. I was a bit rundown and it caught up with me at the wrong time.

“I was pretty hot and cooked. I was struggling to breathe from one point with the congestion.

“But I had a job to do and you have to put that in the back of your mind."

Bowling first, the Heat setup their title-winning victory by restricting the Sixers to a modest 7-131.

They managed to dismiss player-of-the-tournament Ellyse Perry for 33 (37 balls) and a tight bowling performance, headlined by Grace Harris' 3-23, proved crucial.

Short was in awe of the triumph and her star batting partner.

"It's incredible. You watch AFL grand finals and you see people interviewed straight after the game and they talk about feeling numb and not being sure what to say and I'm a person of words," said Short.

"I said to Beth in the change room before that I'm actually not sure I have any at that moment, I needed a couple of minutes to compose myself because it really is a matter of so much happening around you and not being completely sure of what actually just happened.

"That's what we've been about all year, I've banged on about it but it's because it's the truth.

"We've relied on different people at different times. Beth struggled early in the season then found some great form at the back end.

Ellyse Perry made a strong start but couldn't go on with her knock. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Opening the batting in searing Heat after keeping wicket, Mooney was the rock Brisbane was looking for after a shaky start at 2-14.

Her stoic innings included nine boundaries and an 84-run partnership with captain Kirby Short (29 from 35) that was the match-winning partnership the Heat desperately needed.

Short’s dismissal with the Heat at 2-98 was followed by a brief collapse which reduced Brisbane to 5-103 and gave the Sixers a sniff of victory.

But the Heat bounced back with Laura Harris hitting the winning boundary with four balls to spare.

Short said Mooney was on the verge of being physically ill on the field.

“We were looking at where the best spot was to go," she said.

“We went for the anti-nausea drugs because we were a bit concerned.

Mooney and Delissa Kimmince celebrate the massive wicket of Alyssa Healy. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

“Beth struggled early in the season but found some great form towards the back end.

“She’s a great competitor and class player. She was always going to stand up today."

The Heat were rank outsiders against the Perry-led Sixers.

Brisbane went into the season with only two international players instead of the allowed three and dropped one of them mid-season, with South African Laura Wolvaardt the only import featuring on Saturday.

Mooney said the mostly Queensland products had dug deep throughout the 16-game tournament.

Healy failed to make her mark with the bat. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

“There has been a lot of stuff flying around about our list not being the strongest and not having the international star power of the Sixers and Thunder," she said.

“At the start of the season I was one of the sceptical ones because we had the opportunity to sign a third international and we chose not to. That’s paid off beautifully.

“The belief we’ve had in our local players and the commitment and quality effort that’s been put it into their games over games…I’ve seen the evolution of these players.

“It’s giving me goosebumps thinking about how far they’ve come.

“Whilst they’re not world class players…they’re doing enough to win us games of cricket."

The Heat will return to Brisbane on Sunday to continue their celebrations.

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Originally published as Brisbane Heat end Sydney Sixers' reign with thrilling win

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