WBBL: Brisbane Heat put Sydney Sixers finals hopes in doubt as Jess Jonassen plays starring role

Sydney Sixers are staring at WBBL finals oblivion unless they quickly turnaround their form after Heat spinner Jess Jonassen strangled their batting with one of the spells of the tournament.

MACKAY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 13: Jess Jonassen of the Heat celebrates dismissing Ellyse Perry of the Sixers during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Brisbane Heat and the Sydney Sixers at Great Barrier Reef Arena, on November 13, 2021, in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Jess Jonassen and Courtney Sippel led a near-flawless bowling display from the Brisbane Heat in a fiery clash against the Sydney Sixers.

It was a match the Sixers had to win to keep their hopes of a finals place alive, but a batting collapse at the Heat’s spiritual home in Mackay led to a three-wicket defeat - their third loss on the trot.

“We’re actually really enjoying one another’s company, it’s just a shame we can’t really put a complete performance together,” said Sixers star Alyssa Healy.

Jess Jonassen took three big wickets at the top of the Sixers order.

“But it’s as good a vibe as we’ve had, I guess that’s the really pleasing aspect. We know the finals are literally in our hands, we’re going to have to win games of cricket - same as last year.

“Hopefully it all clicks at some stage.”

The Heat were set just 92 runs to win but they made a meal of the chase when they found themselves in strife at 4-37, until Nadine de Klerk and Sippel eventually steered them to victory with plenty to spare.

It was always going to be tough for the Sixers to recover from their batting display. The carnage began in the second over, when Courtney Sippel bowled a full length delivery that just nipped in enough for Healy to edge it behind.

Healy was amazed she was given out, but she was lucky to have survived a dropped catch in the first over and walked off shaking her head.

Sippel struck again a couple of deliveries later when Ash Gardner picked out Nadine de Klerk on the boundary and suddenly the Sixers were 2-6.

Nadine de Klerk celebrates the wicket of Angela Reakes.

It was a double-wicket maiden over in the powerplay, and the Sixers never recovered from it.

Nicole Bolton top scored with 25 before Jess Jonassen claimed her wicket - with the help of a stunning catch by Mikayla Hinkley - in what was another tremendous bowling display from the Heat skipper. Jonassen also nabbed the big wicket of Ellyse Perry and ended with superb figures of 3-15.

There is more than enough star power in the Sixers batting lineup to dig them out of trouble, but on this occasion it was an implosion.

Georgia Redmayne was sharp behind the stumps for the Heat, their fielding was on point and the all-round bowling display was flawless as the Sixers fell to a poultry total of 7-91.

Lauren Cheatle was a standout for the Sixers with the ball, picking up the big wicket of Grace Harris in her first over and going on to dismiss Georgia Voll and Georgia Redmayne.

But in the end the Sixers didn’t have nearly enough runs on the board for their bowlers to defend.

Lauren Cheatle was the pick of the Sixers bowlers.

THOUGHTS WITH GOZZY

Both Alyssa Healy and Lisa Sthalekar sent their thoughts out to Michelle Goszko during the match. The former Australia cricketer suffered a stroke on Saturday, with Sthalekar revealing the news during the broadcast. Goszko, 44, played four Test matches for Australia between 2001-2006.

“She is in ICU and she is talking a little bit and she’s improving slowly,” Sthalekar said.

“The cricket community is certainly behind you, Gozzy.”

MEANINGFUL CATCH

There was plenty of emotion behind Mikayla Hinkley’s stunning, one-handed diving catch to dismiss Nicole Bolton. The Heat were wearing their Indigenous kit for the first time ahead of First Nations round - a shirt that was designed by their only Indigenous player, Hinkley.

“I think it’s just emotion and everything that’s led up to the moment of being able to represent my culture tonight. Even if that’s the only impact I have today, I hope I’ve represented my culture and people proud.”