Brisbane Heat 7 for 153 (Redmayne 28 retd hurt, King 2-24, Kapp 2-25) beat Perth Scorchers 8 for 120 (Green 58, Hancock 3-26, Kerr 2-16) by 33 runs
Brisbane Heat will be sweating on the fitness of Georgia Redmayne after the golden-bat leader injured her hamstring during her side's 33-run win over Perth Scorchers.
Heat posted a competitive 7 for 153 at Lilac Hill on Wednesday, before restricting the Scorchers to 8 for 120 in a disappointing batting display from the defending champions. Legspinner Amelia Kerr was named Player of the Match for her miserly figures of 2 for 16, while Nicola Hancock picked up 3 for 26.
The result rocketed Brisbane from third into top spot, while the fourth-placed Scorchers have lost two games on the trot and now face a fight to make the finals. Scorchers are two competition points ahead of fifth-placed Hobart Hurricanes, but Hurricanes have two games in hand and a better net run rate.
Heat's victory over Scorchers was significant in the race for the prized top spot, but the injury to Redmayne is a major worry just two weeks out from the finals.
Redmayne winced in pain after getting down on a knee to play a shot early in the seventh over. The 28-year old continued to bat, but her hobbling between the wickets meant Heat had to settle for singles several times when two runs were on offer. She cracked a boundary to finish the 11th over, but she was called off by the doctor immediately after.
Despite being forced to retire hurt, Redmayne's 28 off 27 balls was the highest score of the innings. Redmayne has scored a competition-high 333 runs this season, and it remains to be seen how serious the injury is.
Scorchers slumped to 4 for 47 in a poor start to their run chase. Openers Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine fell cheaply, with Chloe Piparo and Marizanne Kapp also failing to have an impact. The loss would have been far worse if it wasn't for the efforts of Maddy Green, who scored 58 off 53 balls before being run out in the final over.
The form of captain Devine is of particular concern to Scorchers. The 33-year old has scored just 119 runs at an average of 14.9. Her strike rate of 99 this season is also far below her usually lofty standards. Devine also dropped a catch in the deep on Wednesday, and conceded 12 runs off her first over, but she rebounded to finish with 1 for 27 and a crucial run-out.
Scorchers legspinner Alana King produced a strong bowling effort taking 2 for 24, while Kapp came within a whisker of snaring a hat-trick in the final over.
Kapp removed Georgia Voll and Pooja Vastrakar with consecutive deliveries, before finding the edge of Nicola Hancock on the hat-trick ball. Scorchers wicketkeeper Mooney dived full stretch to her right, but the ball sailed just wide.
