Hobart Hurricanes 136 for 6 (Wyatt-Hodge 72*, Brown 4-16) beat Adelaide Strikers 134 for 7 (Wellington 33, Graham 2-23) by four wickets
Hobart Hurricanes opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge's unbeaten half-century secured a thrilling four-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers.
Wyatt-Hodge, the golden cap owner for most runs for the season, paced her 72 not out off 57 to perfection to get the undefeated Hurricanes home with two deliveries to spare.
Strikers fast bowler Darcie Brown (4 for 16) had threatened to win the match for her side with equal career-best figures, which allowed her to wear the golden cap for most wickets for the summer to date.
Hurricanes pace bowler Hayley Silver-Holmes hit consecutive boundaries in the last over off Megan Schutt to secure victory at Bellerive Oval as they chased down Adelaide's 134.
Wyatt-Hodge, who now has 251 runs in just four games this season, took 18 runs from 19-year-old Eleanor Larosa's first over in the WBBL, including four boundaries in a row highlighted by some delightful timing through the offside.
Lizelle Lee (12 runs) flicked a six with ease over deep square leg before chopping on a Brown delivery after a breezy 33-run opening stand. Brown had her rhythm working and bowled stump-to-stump. Nat Sciver-Brunt tried an ill-conceived ramp and heard the death rattle.
Next on Brown's hit list was Nicola Carey who was well caught at first slip by Amanda-Jade Wellington. Then a fast Brown yorker went straight through Heather Graham.
Though wickets fell at the other end, Wyatt-Hodge kept finding the boundary when she needed to and picked up her ones and twos as well.
Hurricanes are doing everything right in the early stages of the season. Their bowlers are picking up wickets with regularity and their fielders are backing them up with quality work.
Strikers never got going early in their innings after being sent in and the pressure built and built. Carey's inswingers tied up the Strikers and she made the early breakthrough to get rid of Tammy Beaumont.
Adelaide's best batter Laura Wolvaardt was well caught at mid-off by skipper Elyse Villani from the crafty offspin of Lauren Smith. Seamer Heather Graham (2-23) knocked over Madeline Penna with a peach of a delivery that seamed in and after 10 overs the visitors had dawdled to 3-45.
Captain Tahlia McGrath appeared to be finding the form that has eluded her in the opening round but couldn't kick on. Wicketkeeper Bridget Patterson (24) was another who failed to make the most of a start.
Strikers legspinner Wellington (33 not out off 21) was the most creative and effective batter in her late cameo. Left-arm orthodox turner Linsey Smith (1-11 off four) gave nothing away in a wily spell for the Hurricanes.
