Taylor sidelined with injury, Matthews fails to fire for Hurricanes

(CMC):

Injured West Indies Women's captain Stafanie Taylor was a non-starter and fellow Windies Women's all-rounder Hayley Matthews made a minor contribution in the final round of preliminary matches in the Women's Big Bash League yesterday.

Taylor was not expected to play after sustaining a leg injury on Saturday, but she watched her Adelaide Strikers teammates upstage semi-finals-bound Perth Scorchers by three runs to close out their participation in this season's competition in a thrilling fashion.

Matthews returned to the Hobart Hurricanes line-up after not playing in the previous two matches. She was dismissed for a four-ball duck and took one for 12 in three overs with her uncomplicated off-spin, but the Sydney Thunder confirmed their place in the semi-finals with a six-wicket victory.

Incredible upset

At North Sydney Oval, the Strikers fought back to pull off an incredible upset win over the Perth Scorchers against the odds, finishing their season on a high note, after being knocked out of semi-finals contention on Saturday.

Amanda-Jade Wellington hit five fours and two sixes in the top score of 48 from 25 balls and led a solid batting effort for the Strikers to reach 159 for six from their allocation of 20 overs after they were put into bat.

South Africa Women's batsman Laura Wolvaardt supported with 37, Katie Mack made 32, and Madeline Penna added 20 to prop up the Strikers' batting.

Mack and Woolvaardt added 57 for the second wicket to hold the top order together before Wellington led the late charge, dominating a fifth-wicket stand of 43 with Bridget Patterson, before falling to the penultimate ball of the innings.

Rookie England Women's pacer Sarah Glenn was the pick of the Scorchers bowlers, taking four for 18 from her allotted four overs.