Rain had threatened the match from the start. Persistent showers delayed the start, forcing the officials to reduce the match to a five-over shootout for both teams. Conditions remained tough throughout, but play continued despite several spells of drizzle. Both the Strikers and Thunder are languishing at the bottom of the table, making the two points even more important. Despite lighter rain than earlier in the evening, the officials opted to stop play at a time when Thunder were just a few runs away from victory.
The early match between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers had already been completed without a ball being bowled, giving the Heat their first point of the season. In the shortened match, Adelaide Strikers posted 45 for 2 in their five overs. Laura Wolvaardt top scored with 22 off 13 balls, hitting two boundaries and a six. Captain Tahlia McGrath scored an unbeaten 12 from six balls, while Shabnim Ismail and Lucy Finn took a wicket each for the Thunder.
Thunder skipper Phoebe Litchfield, one of the standout performers of the season, came out in full force during the chase. Despite a drizzle, she hit 38 not out off just 15 balls, including eight fours. By the end of 2.5 overs, Thunder had cruised to 43 without loss. They needed just one boundary to get a win. But the referees stopped the game due to rain. Moments later the match was officially stopped, resulting in a No Result.
Litchfield herself expressed her disappointment in a post-match interview, saying: “It’s a shame. It’s quite disappointing.” Former Australian batsman Callum Ferguson went even further on air, calling the decision a disgrace and claiming the match looked bad. Commentators also pointed out that the rain at the time of the interruption was lighter than during a number of previous overs when play continued uninterrupted.
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