Defending champions Sydney Thunder lost their last seven wickets for just 17
Adelaide Strikers 7 for 140 (McGrath 42) beat Sydney Thunder 110 (Hall, 38 McGrath 3-17)
McGrath, who is captaining Strikers in the absence of Megan Schutt, top-scored with 42 off 34 balls before claiming 3 for 17, starting with the scalp of Smriti Mandhana, then the match-securing brace of Corinne Hall and Anika Learoyd in consecutive deliveries when they had given Thunder a glimmer after losing early wickets.
They were both set to cut loose in the closing overs but fell in the space of three deliveries against Lauren Smith. However, Amanda-Jade Wellington was able to edge the total to 140.
Hannah Darlington, in her first game as Thunder captain at the age of 19, took 1 for 22 with the a sharp inswinger removing Bridget Patterson.
Thunder’s chase started poorly when Sammy-Jo Johnson, opening to try and make use of the Powerplay, was brilliantly caught at midwicket by Penna off a powerfully-struck pull. McGrath, after an expensive start to her first over, then had Mandhana caught at backward point with the first delivery to her – coming round the wicket and luring a drive as the Australians had tried to do with mixed results during the multi-format series.
Phoebe Litchfield briefly timed the ball very nicely before edging a cut in Jemma Barsby’s first over and though Hall and Learoyd rebuilt the asking rate was always rising. McGrath claimed them both in the 15th over and the lower order fell away. In all, the last seven wickets fell for 17.
