Brisbane Heat beat Hobart by 10 wickets after 34-ball chase

Brisbane Heat defeated Hobart Hurricanes by 10 wickets in the Women's Big Bash League on Saturday, completing their chase in just 5.4 overs. After dismissing the hosts for 86 at Ninja Stadium in Hobart, Brisbane reached 88 without loss with 86 balls remaining. AAP reported that the result strengthened the Heat's hold on third place.

Watch the highlights:

The victory was Brisbane's fourth in six matches, while defending champions Hobart suffered a sixth defeat without a win. According to AAP, Brisbane have now collected four victories in 10 days after previously going 706 days without one. Their latest success combined an early breakthrough with the ball and an uninterrupted opening partnership in the chase.

Lily Bassingthwaighte took 3-25, including the wicket of Hurricanes captain Nicola Carey as Hobart slipped to 11-3. The innings later stood at 42-6, and Lauren Smith's 20 from number nine proved the home side's highest score. Sianna Ginger returned 2-8, Lucy Hamilton 2-15 and Sarah Glenn 2-16. Knott dismissed Smith to finish the innings after 17.5 overs.

Grace Harris then made an unbeaten 52 from 22 deliveries, while Knott finished on 34 not out from 12. The scorecard recorded eight fours and two sixes for Harris, with Knott contributing four fours and two sixes. Between them, the openers scored 72 runs in boundaries, leaving little need to build the chase through singles or sustained running between the wickets.

Hobart used six bowlers in an attempt to interrupt the partnership, but none took a wicket. Linsey Smith conceded 17 from her over, Carey 18 and Chinelle Henry 20, according to the scorecard. Heather Graham's seven-run over was the least expensive, before Isa Malgioglio conceded 13 and Hayley Silver-Holmes went for another 13 from four deliveries as Brisbane completed the pursuit.

Brisbane reached 62 without loss in the opening four-over powerplay, a competition record according to AAP. Harris brought up her half-century from 21 balls, and Knott finished the match with consecutive boundaries. The BBC scorecard confirmed the 10-wicket margin, with Brisbane requiring only 34 legal deliveries to settle the contest after choosing to bowl first.