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At the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Friday, October 30, Sydney Sixers launched their WBBL 2026 campaign with a four-wicket victory over Brisbane Heat in a match that went down to the very last ball. Sarah Coyte struck a boundary off the final delivery to carry the Sixers home and extend Brisbane Heat's winless streak to beyond 700 days.
Brisbane Heat posted 154 for 5 in their 20 overs, with Georgia Redmayne anchoring the innings alongside a blazing contribution from Charli Knott. Knott cracked eight boundaries in her knock of 57, including five fours and three sixes, and the pair had put on a stand of 1 for 117 by the 15th over to give Heat a platform. Ashleigh Gardner took 2 for 25 to be the pick of the Sixers' bowlers as Brisbane set a competitive target.
In reply, Sydney Sixers reached 157 for 6 in 20 overs to win by four wickets. Ellyse Perry was the cornerstone of the chase, striking 58 off 38 balls and helping the Sixers to 1 for 103 as they stayed on course. Sophia Dunkley chipped in with 37, while Charli Knott claimed 2 for 25 with the ball to keep Heat in the contest. However, the Sixers needed 41 runs from the final stages and Alice Capsey contributed 21 before the equation tightened further. With 36 required off 10 and then 18 needed off 8, the match remained in the balance deep into the final over. Coyte's boundary off the last ball settled the contest in favour of the Sixers, completing a chase of 157 in exactly 20 overs.
Amelia Kerr, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton and Grace Harris were among the other names involved across both sides in this 13th edition of the Women's Big Bash League, with the match serving as the opening fixture of WBBL|12 on October 30, 2026.
How did Brisbane Heat's innings unfold?
Brisbane Heat's innings was built around a productive middle-order partnership. Georgia Redmayne held the innings together while Charli Knott provided the acceleration, reaching 57 with a boundary count of eight, comprising five fours and three sixes. The pair's stand had taken Heat to 1 for 117 by the 15th over, giving the home side momentum heading into the back end of their innings.
Ashleigh Gardner was the most economical of the Sixers' bowlers, finishing with figures of 2 for 25 across her spell. Brisbane Heat ultimately posted 154 for 5 from their 20 overs, a total that proved competitive but ultimately not enough on a last-ball finish.
Why does this result deepen Brisbane Heat's winless run?
Brisbane Heat's defeat on October 30, 2026 pushed their winless streak in the Women's Big Bash League to beyond 700 days, a run that now stretches back well before the start of the 2026-27 season. Despite Charli Knott's 57 and a total of 154 for 5, the Heat were unable to defend their score as Ellyse Perry's 58 off 36 balls and Sophia Dunkley's 37 gave the Sixers a strong foundation in the chase.
The final over produced a tense finish, with the Sixers needing 18 off the last 8 balls and Sarah Coyte eventually sealing the win with a boundary from the very last delivery. For Brisbane Heat, the loss means their search for a WBBL victory extends further, with the winless run now surpassing the 700-day mark heading into the remainder of the WBBL season.
