Women’s Big Bash League 2019, Standout player, biggest takeaway, best team – Alyssa Healy, Sydney Sixers, and the Melbourne Stars

Three weeks into the WBBL 2019, and the tournament is in full swing. There were plenty of runs, a few collapses, and a lot of excitement over the last week. We look at the best moments.

Standout player – Alyssa Healy
For the opposition, Alyssa Healy really should come with a warning stamped on her forehead. Melbourne Stars would appreciate it. Healy slammed a typically belligerent 53-ball 106* against the Stars, putting on 199-run partnership for the opening wicket – you read that right – with Ellyse Perry. It was the highest partnership for any wicket in the WBBL and for Healy in particular, the century was her third in just over a month, having thumped the Sri Lanka bowlers in both the ODIs and the T20Is. She really is one of the best in the game.

Standout moment – Sydney Sixers
Dane van Niekerk was the star in a team hat-trick when the Sixers took on Melbourne Renegades. The Renegades slide was triggered by Healy, who ran out Courtney Webb, and then it was over to van Niekerk. She first had Tammy Beaumont bowled through the gates, and then followed it up with the Georgia Wareham with the very next ball. All three wickets came within the first three deliveries of the 14th over, and from 65/2, the Renegades slide to 65/5. Perry then guided the team to a four-wicket victory.

Room for improvement – Melbourne Stars
The Stars have had a wretched tournament so far. They have played six matches so far, and have been beaten fair and square in five of them. Their only victory came against Perth Scorchers last week, but any semblance of confidence and morale from that victory was snuffed out by Sydney Sixers thereafter, with Healy and Perry giving them a thumping for the ages in a 45-run loss. At the time of writing, the Stars aren’t as much as in the sky as at the bottom of the table, two points behind the Scorchers. Improvement is desperately needed.

Standout quote – “You don’t realise how much this competition means to people until you hear they have driven 5-10 hours to come watch you play!!!”

–          Delissa Kimmince thanks to the Brisbane Heat supporters.