WBBL: Shafali Verma stars in Sydney Sixers win

Hobart, October 17

India’s teen star Shafali Verma’s first Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) half-century and a fine all-round display from Ellyse Perry led Sydney Sixers to five-wicket win over Hobart Hurricanes in a Women’s Big Bash League match here on Sunday.

Courtesy a strong bowling display from Perry (2/9) and Maitlan Brown (2/23), Sydney restricted Hobart to 125/9, but when Alyssa Healy (3) and Ashleigh Gardner (3) departed cheaply, the Sydney club looked wobbly at 14/2.

A 63-run partnership between Perry (27) and Shafali (57) then steadied the chase and while both departed with runs still required, Nicole Bolton (17*) and Maitlan Brown (4*) sealed it for Sydney with three balls to spare. Shafali played 50 balls for her 57, striking six fours.

Earlier, for Hobart, another Indian teenager, Richa Ghosh, was the top-scorer with 46 off 46 balls, with one four and three sixers. — Agencies