Golden ducks to star imports set trend in Hobart’s shocker to open the women’s Big Bash season
There were plenty of new faces, but it was the same old story for the Hobart Hurricanes, who crashed to an embarrassing defeat in their WBBL opener to Adelaide.
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THE WBBL season has started in horrific fashion for the Hurricanes after they were embarrassed by the Adelaide Strikers in Sydney.
Chasing redemption following three successive substandard tournaments which have yielded just eight wins from 42 matches and two wooden spoons, Hobart’s batting woes didn’t take long to again surface.
The Hurricanes underwent a major overhaul of their list in an effort to add more top order firepower but the long term achilles heel — the batting powerplay — flared again.
It was the worst imaginable start at Hurstville Oval when imports Rachel Priest and Hayley Matthews fell for golden ducks, both bowled by Megan Schutt after the first ball of the match was a wide.
Australian all-rounder Nicola Carey also had her stumps rattled by Darcie Brown on the last ball of the second over, with Hobart’s three big guns all unable to handle some quality swing bowling.
Naomi Stalenberg (28) and skipper Corinne Hall (15) briefly steadied but Hobart was unable to recover from the early collapse, posting a paltry 84 after being bowled out in the 17th over.
South African Chloe Tryon (20 from 18 balls) was the only other batter to reach double figures.
Brown (3-13) and Amanda-Jade Wellington (3-19) were the pick of the Strikers’ attack.
Adelaide cantered to its target for the loss of just two wickets and with 36 balls remaining.
Belinda Vakarewa knocked over Annie O’Neil in the opening over but young South African star Laura Wolvaardt, who shone at the T20 World Cup earlier this year, ensured there were no major concerns in the chase.
The 21-year-old finished unbeaten on 51, facing 42 deliveries and hitting eight boundaries.
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