Home Cricket Facts Voll backs Heat as ‘perfect team’ to stop Strikers’ back-to-back bid

Voll backs Heat as ‘perfect team’ to stop Strikers’ back-to-back bid

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Voll backs Heat as ‘perfect team’ to stop Strikers’ back-to-back bid


All-rounder Georgia Voll believed an aggressive Brisbane Heat were the “perfect team” to defeat defending champions Adelaide Strikers despite a grueling run to the WBBL final.

Heat stormed into Saturday’s final at Adelaide Oval after defeating Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers on consecutive days in the WACA. After a three-game losing streak late in the season cost them a top-two finish and a home final, the Heat embarked on a five-and-a-half-hour flight from Brisbane to Perth on Sunday night.

After recovery and a light training session on Monday, Heat played inspired cricket and enjoyed a bouncy WACA surface to keep their bid for a third WBBL title alive.

They showed no signs of fatigue in their impressive performances, but on Thursday they will board a three-hour flight to Adelaide before a quick turnaround for the final.

“It won’t bother us. It’s great that we had some momentum,” said player Voll, who posted career-best WBBL numbers of 4 for 19 against the Scorchers. “I love playing cricket a lot. We’ve had some ups and downs throughout the year but we’re picking up momentum at the right time.

“So I think it’s been very good for us to play both games.”

In Perth, Heat played an irresistible brand of cricket with Grace Harris’ fireworks in the powerplay, setting the stage for big totals after batting first. Sailors Nicola Hancock and Courtney Sippel swept Thunder before Voll and his teammate Jess Jonassen took control against Scorchers.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but I think we have the perfect team to get them rolling,” Voll said. “Our balance in batting… we practically reached 11.

“We back up our ability to go hard pretty much at all times. With bowling we back up our two quicks and spinners to defend or set the tone.

“It’s going to be a great final. I think they’ll have a packed Adelaide Oval, there’ll be an incredible atmosphere and hopefully we can beat them one more time.”

Heat will be without batsman Bess Heath, who will leave for England’s imminent tour of India. “Bess has been a huge part of our team. She’s a big loss, but whoever fills that spot will do a great job,” Voll said.

There will be an extra touch in the final between teams that have won three of the last five titles after Strikers seamstress Megan Schutt last year called the Heat’s playing style “a little arrogant.”

“It’s like the pot calling the kettle black, right?” Harris said. “I don’t really think much of it and it doesn’t bother me too much because you can talk all you want… it all comes down to how you go out on the field.”

Harris looks key in the final after coming off a poor run of form and lighting up the Heat in Perth with 99 runs off 55 balls in the two games.

“I’m a strike rate hitter…[aim to] strike at 180-200. You will be inconsistent, but happy to take on that role. We want to play an aggressive type of cricket. It’s about making shots and not worrying about getting out. If we are out for 80 then screw them, but if we score 197 then that is our game plan and we have to stick to it.

“If we do a full performance [in the final] “So we will definitely be competitive.”

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