Adelaide Strikers ended their two-match losing streak in dramatic fashion as Sophie Ecclestone struck a boundary off the final delivery to secure a four-wicket win over Hobart Hurricanes. The result marks the fifth consecutive loss for the Hurricanes in WBBL 2026, overshadowing a determined captain’s knock by Nicola Carey. The Strikers, also coming off two losses, set off much quicker.
Chasing 139 for victory, the Strikers began aggressively as Maia Bouchier took three boundaries off Chinelle Henry’s opening over. By the end of the six-over powerplay, they reached 43 for 1, with Bouchier departing to Linsey Smith on the final ball of the fielding restrictions. Emma de Broughe then took charge alongside Laura Wolvaardt, guiding the side to 71 for 1 at the halfway mark of the innings. De Broughe’s dismissal the following over stalled the innings a bit.
However, the chase faltered after De Broughe was dismissed for 41 early in the second half of the innings. Smith returned to claim the wicket of Tahlia McGrath, and the Strikers managed only 27 runs between the 10th and 15th overs. Tight spells from Molly Strano and Heather Graham left the Strikers needing 17 runs from the final two overs. Carey, who had been expensive, took a wicket in the 19th over to leave the equation at 12 runs required off the last six balls. Smith came back to prise out McGrath as well.
The final over saw further tension when Wolvaardt fell to Strano for a run-a-ball 27. With four runs needed from the final delivery, Ecclestone completed a decisive three-ball cameo by hitting her second boundary of the over to seal the win. Earlier, the Hurricanes posted 138 for 5 after a difficult start. Chamari Athapaththu struggled to find timing, scoring just 8 off 20 balls at one stage before being retired out for 10 off 26 deliveries.
Lizelle Lee provided early intent with two boundaries off Ecclestone but was eventually trapped leg-before by the spinner. Madeline Penna also contributed with the ball, removing Rachel Trenaman after a brief battle. When Athapaththu left the middle, Carey was on a cautious 15 off 23 balls, but she orchestrated a significant recovery during the closing stages.
Carey reached her second successive half-century in the 19th over, punishing Tahlia McGrath for three fours in five balls. Her late surge ensured the Hurricanes scored 54 runs in the final five overs, lifting them from 84 for 3 to a competitive total. Carey finished unbeaten on 66, but her efforts were not enough to prevent another Hurricanes defeat. Brief scores: Hobart Hurricanes 138/5 (Nicola Carey 66; Madeline Penna 1-14) lost to Adelaide Strikers 139/6 (Emma de Broughe 41; Lauren Smith 2-6, Molly Strano 2-30) by four wickets. Brief scores: Hobart Hurricanes Women 138/5 in 20 overs (Nicola Carey 66, Sophie Ecclestone 1-37, Madeline Penna 1-14) lost to Adelaide Strikers Women 139/6 in 20 overs (Emma de Broughe 41, Laura Wolvaardt 27; Lauren Smi. But Carey kept collecting fours, even as the others batted around her without lending any firepower to the innings, there were no sixes.
