Heroic hitting from New Zealand's Sophie Devine has propelled the Adelaide Strikers to a dramatic super-over Big Bash League win over the Hobart Hurricanes.
Sophie Devine playing for the White Ferns. Photo: ICC
Devine's 99 not out off 53 balls underpinned the Strikers' 189 for 5 from their 20 overs at Karen Rolton Oval, which the Hurricanes bravely matched when they responded with 189-8.
Katelyn Fryett's boundary off the last ball, with five required for victory, tied the scores after opener Smriti Mandhana smoked 52 off just 25 balls to set up their strong chase.
Mandhana belted the first ball of the super over from Sarah Coyte high onto the marquee roof as the visitors scored 1-12.
But Devine was even better, heaving Brooke Hepburn for back-to-back maximums before edging an off-side boundary to give the Strikers a remarkable win with three balls remaining.
It also keeps their very slim finals hopes alive.
After the Strikers were held to just 1-31 during the powerplay, Devine and Tahlia McGrath (63 off 42 balls) smashed 88 off the next seven overs.
McGrath dominated the pair's 105-run second-wicket union before Devine went hard late, belting Heather Knight's death over for 22 but falling one run shy of a second WBBL ton.
"My nerves are a bit shot, to be honest," Devine said.
"I just swung my arms and it went our way."
In response, Indian star Mandhana laid a sizzling foundation before wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne (54 not out) finished expertly, the asking rate never getting out of hand despite the steady loss of wickets.
With 24 needed off 12, Redmayne went after Sam Betts to make it eight required off the last over.
"I think we did really well to get as close as we did to that total," Redmayne said.
"We can take some confidence from that.
"But it's a little bit heart-breaking that we couldn't find one more run out there."
Sarah Coyte (3-32) kept her cool before No.10 Katelyn Fryett squirted the last ball through point for four to prompt her 'Canes teammates to start celebrating on the sidelines.
But it was Devine who would have the final say.
-AAP
