Madeline Penna, bowlers hand Adelaide Strikers a comprehensive win over Hobart Hurricanes

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Kaushiik Paul
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Madeline Penna, bowlers hand Adelaide Strikers a comprehensive win over Hobart Hurricanes

Madeline Penna has been one of the bright spots for Strikers in WBBL06. © Getty Images



Chasing 142 for victory, the Purple Brigade fell just like a pack of cards offering zero resistance to the opposition. Baring Chloe Tryon's 17, none of the Hurricanes batters were able to get to the double digits as to gift Strikers a walk-in-the-park. It was also Hurricanes' second below-100 score in as many matches after they were all out for 82 against Brisbane Heat the previous day. Their 77 all out is also the sixth-lowest WBBL total in history.

Brown, who has been in tremendous form this season, gave the first breakthrough dismissing former New Zealand international Rachel Priest for just four. Coyte and McGrath too joined the party picking up Hayley Matthews and Naomi Stalenberg for seven and eight respectively. Carey was the next one to go for three. Hurricanes never recovered from there as they kept going down the barrel to slump to their eighth loss in 11 games.

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Earlier, Madeline Penna hit 24 runs -- 2, 4, 6, 4, 6, 2 -- off the final over as Adelaide Strikers posted a respectable 141/6 in 20 overs after an awful start. Opting to bowl first, Hurricanes were always on top till the 19th over but a late blitzkrieg from Penna changed the course of the game as the batting side plundered 64 runs from the last five overs.

The Strikers were never in the groove from the start. Tahlia McGrath was the first one to go before Katie Mack holed out to Hayley Matthews off Brooke Hepburn. South African Laura Wolvaardt, who is having a start-stop outing so far, once again failed with the bat for just 16.

Bridget Paterson was undone by a beautiful Nicola Carey delivery that came in through the gates, for a golden duck before Stafanie Taylor got out in a similar fashion off the same bowler. With the scoreboard reading at 72/6 in the 14th over, the writing was on the wall for Strikers.

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However, Penna had other plans. The 20-year-old hit Belinda Vakarewa for a couple of boundaries in an over besides maintaining a besides rotating the strike with Tegan McPharlin at the other end. With Strikers at 117/6 at the beginning of the final over, then came the Penna magic.

The right-hander took a double in the first of the last six balls before hitting a boundary through the extra cover. The third ball she flicked over the leg side for a six while the fourth ball went for a four through gully and point. The second six of the over, came in a similar fashion to bring up her maiden fifty of the WBBL06. She took a double on the final ball to finish at unbeaten 56 off 33 balls.

Amy Smith was the most economical for Hurricanes finishing with 1/19 from her four overs.

Brief scores: Adelaide Strikers 141/6 in 20 overs (Madeline Penna 54*; Brooke Hepburn 2/23) beat Hobart Hurricanes 77 all out in 16.4 overs (Chloe Tryon 17; Sarah Coyte 3/10) by 64 runs. POTM: Madeline Penna
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