2017–18 Sydney Thunder WBBL season
# 2017–18 Sydney Thunder WBBL season

The 2017–18 Sydney Thunder Women's season was the third in the team's history. Coached by Joanne Broadbent and captained by Alex Blackwell, the Thunder finished the regular season of WBBL|03 in second place. They were subsequently knocked out of the tournament via a 27-run semi-final loss to the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium.

## Squad

Each WBBL|03 squad featured 15 active players, with an allowance of up to five marquee signings including a maximum of three from overseas. Australian marquees were defined as players who made at least ten limited-overs appearances for the national team in the three years prior to the cut-off date (24 April 2017).

Personnel changes for ahead of the season included:

* Erin Osborne departed the Thunder, joining the Melbourne Stars.
* Lauren Cheatle departed the Thunder, joining the Sydney Sixers.
* New Zealand marquee Rachel Priest joined the Thunder, departing the Melbourne Renegades.
* Claire Koski departed the Thunder, joining the Melbourne Renegades.
* Mikayla Hinkley departed the Thunder, joining the Perth Scorchers.
* Stefanie Daffara departed the Thunder, joining the Hobart Hurricanes.

Changes made during the season included the signing of England marquee Fran Wilson as a replacement player.

The table below lists the Sixers players and their key stats (including runs scored, batting strike rate, wickets taken, economy rate, catches and stumpings) for the season.

| No. | Name | Birth date | Batting style | Bowling style | G | R | SR | W | E | C | S | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Batters ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Alex Blackwell | (1983-08-31)31 August 1983 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 15 | 338 | 95.48 | – | – | 4 | – | Captain, Australian marquee |
| 15 | Rachael Haynes | (1986-12-26)26 December 1986 | Left-handed | Left-arm medium | 15 | 426 | 120.67 | – | – | 4 | – | |
| 45 | Harmanpreet Kaur | (1989-03-08)8 March 1989 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 9 | 107 | 95.53 | 3 | 7.00 | 5 | – | Overseas marquee |
| 10 | Naomi Stalenberg | (1994-04-18)18 April 1994 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 14 | 227 | 112.37 | 0 | 14.00 | 9 | – | |
| 35 | Fran Wilson | 7 November 1991 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 6 | 50 | 125.00 | – | – | 1 | – | Overseas marquee (replacement) |
| All-rounders ||||||||||||||
| 5 | Nicola Carey | (1993-09-10)10 September 1993 | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | 15 | 149 | 126.27 | 17 | 6.70 | 6 | – | |
| 25 | Hannah Darlington | 25 January 2002 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| | Sterre Kalis | (1999-08-30)30 August 1999 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Associate rookie |
| 24 | Stafanie Taylor | (1991-06-11)11 June 1991 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 15 | 168 | 84.00 | 15 | 6.21 | 3 | – | Overseas marquee |
| Wicket-keepers ||||||||||||||
| 3 | Rachel Priest | (1985-07-13)13 July 1985 | Right-handed | – | 15 | 264 | 118.91 | – | – | 4 | 7 | Overseas marquee |
| | Hannah Trethewy | | | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| Bowlers ||||||||||||||
| 34 | Samantha Bates | 7 August 1992 | Right-handed | Left-arm orthodox spin | 14 | 7 | 140.00 | 16 | 5.87 | 3 | – | |
| 88 | Rene Farrell | (1987-01-13)13 January 1987 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast medium | 15 | 61 | 141.86 | 17 | 6.03 | 4 | – | Australian marquee |
| 13 | Maisy Gibson | (1996-09-14)14 September 1996 | Left-handed | Right-arm leg spin | 15 | 4 | 50.00 | 9 | 6.59 | 2 | – | |
| 54 | Lisa Griffith | (1992-08-28)28 August 1992 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 6 | 2 | 33.33 | 0 | 10.02 | 3 | – | |
| 8 | Rachel Trenaman | (2001-04-18)18 April 2001 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg spin | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 47 | Belinda Vakarewa | (1998-01-22)22 January 1998 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast medium | 11 | – | – | 11 | 5.68 | 3 | – | |

## Ladder

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sydney Sixers (C) | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0.890 |
| 2 | Sydney Thunder | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0.684 |
| 3 | Perth Scorchers (RU) | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 0.266 |
| 4 | Adelaide Strikers | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 0.250 |
| 5 | Brisbane Heat | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0.147 |
| 6 | Melbourne Renegades | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 0.092 |
| 7 | Melbourne Stars | 14 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 10 | −0.634 |
| 8 | Hobart Hurricanes | 14 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 4 | −1.733 |

* The top four teams qualified for the semi finals.

## Fixtures

All times are local time

### Regular season

* Match 1 9 December 2017 13:45 Scorecard

| Sydney Thunder 6/200 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Renegades 6/189 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Rachael Haynes 55 (41) Maitlan Brown 1/29 (4 overs) | | Jess Duffin 81 (47) Stafanie Taylor 2/30 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 11 runs North Sydney Oval No. 2 Umpires: Ryan Nelson and David Shepard Player of the match: Jess Duffin (Renegades)
* Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to field
* Broadcast by Network Ten
* Match 6 10 December 2017 14:00 Scorecard

| Sydney Thunder 6/142 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 4/146 (18.4 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Alex Blackwell 58 (52) Ellyse Perry 2/15 (4 overs) | | Alyssa Healy 49 (27) Stafanie Taylor 1/27 (3 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 6 wickets (with 8 balls remaining) North Sydney Oval No. 2 Umpires: Marc Nickl and Ben Treloar Player of the match: Alyssa Healy (Sixers)
* Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to bat
* Broadcast by Network Ten
* Match 8 12 December 2017 14:00 Scorecard

| Melbourne Stars 8/114 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 2/115 (14.3 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Lizelle Lee 31 (25) Harmanpreet Kaur 3/18 (4 overs) | | Rachael Haynes 54 (33) Emma Kearney 1/25 (3 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 8 wickets (with 33 balls remaining) Lavington Sports Oval, Albury Umpires: Dinusha Bandara and Andrew Crozier Player of the match: Rachael Haynes (Thunder)
* Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 10 16 December 2017 13:00 Scorecard

| Melbourne Stars 4/132 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 1/135 (15.1 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Mignon du Preez 58 (48) Samantha Bates 1/16 (4 overs) | | Rachael Haynes 78* (49) Erin Osborne 1/26 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 9 wickets (with 29 balls remaining) Howell Oval, Penrith Umpires: Ryan Nelson and G Stubbings Player of the match: Rachael Haynes (Thunder)
* Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 21 30 December 2017 14:20 Scorecard

| Hobart Hurricanes 8/112 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 3/116 (16.2 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Hayley Matthews 39 (40) Stafanie Taylor 4/15 (4 overs) | | Rachael Haynes 64 (49) Brooke Hepburn 2/14 (3 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 7 wickets (with 22 balls remaining) University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston Umpires: Muhammad Qureshi and G Beechey Player of the match: Stafanie Taylor (Thunder)
* Hobart Hurricanes won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 22 31 December 2017 11:00 Scorecard

| Hobart Hurricanes 97 (19.4 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 2/99 (15 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Stefanie Daffara 30 (32) Samantha Bates 3/12 (4 overs) | | Alex Blackwell 43* (34) Celeste Raack 1/14 (3 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 8 wickets (with 30 balls remaining) University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston Umpires: Muhammad Qureshi and Darren Close Player of the match: Samantha Bates (Thunder)
* Hobart Hurricanes won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 29 7 January 2018 10:00 Scorecard

| Sydney Thunder 6/145 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 6/144 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Rachel Priest 42 (32) Piepa Cleary 3/19 (3 overs) | | Nicole Bolton 71 (57) Rene Farrell 2/19 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 1 run Lilac Hill, Perth Umpires: A Kovalevs and Trent Steenholdt Player of the match: Rene Farrell (Thunder)
* Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au

The Scorchers were well poised to chase down their target of 146 until a catch on the boundary by Thunder fielder Lisa Griffith dismissed Nicole Bolton for 71 in the 18th over, leaving the hosts needing 20 runs from the final 14 deliveries. On the last ball of the match, Scorchers batter Mathilda Carmichael was run out by a metre while attempting a game-tying run, therefore securing victory for the Thunder by the narrowest of margins.

* Match 31 8 January 2018 13:30 Scorecard

| Sydney Thunder 4/134 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 2/136 (18.1 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Alex Blackwell 81* (58) Katherine Brunt 1/13 (4 overs) | | Natalie Sciver 61* (50) Maisy Gibson 1/18 (4 overs) |

* Perth Scorchers won by 8 wickets (with 11 balls remaining) WACA Ground, Perth Umpires: James Hewitt and A Kovalevs Player of the match: Alex Blackwell (Thunder)
* Perth Scorchers won the toss and elected to field
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 35 13 January 2018 14:30 Scorecard

| Sydney Sixers 113 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 6/114 (19 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Ellyse Perry 25 (25) Samantha Bates 3/21 (4 overs) | | Naomi Stalenberg 48 (41) Sarah Aley 3/11 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 4 wickets (with 6 balls remaining) Sydney Cricket Ground Umpires: Anthony Hobson and G Stubbings Player of the match: Naomi Stalenberg (Thunder)
* Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 43 20 January 2018 14:00 Scorecard

| Sydney Thunder 4/148 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 111 (19.2 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Rachel Priest 51 (27) Tahlia McGrath 2/16 (4 overs) | | Bridget Patterson 30 (20) Samantha Bates 3/21 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 37 runs Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga Umpires: Andrew Scotford and D Young Player of the match: Rachel Priest (Thunder)
* Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 47 21 January 2018 14:00 Scorecard

| Adelaide Strikers 5/114 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 4/114 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Suzie Bates 40 (43) Rene Farrell 2/21 (4 overs) | | Naomi Stalenberg 29 (24) Amanda-Jade Wellington 2/21 (4 overs) |

* Match Tied (Adelaide Strikers won the Super Over) Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga Umpires: Andrew Scotford and D Young Player of the match: Sophie Devine (Strikers)
* Adelaide Strikers won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 48 24 January 2018 14:50 Scorecard

| Melbourne Renegades 68 (15.5 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 6/69 (16 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Amy Satterthwaite 17 (19) Nicola Carey 3/10 (3.5 overs) | | Rachael Haynes 37 (36) Hayley Jensen 3/11 (3 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 4 wickets (with 24 balls remaining) Manuka Oval, Canberra Umpires: Dinusha Bandara and Andrew Crozier Player of the match: Nicola Carey (Thunder)
* Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 52 27 January 2018 13:30 Scorecard

| Sydney Thunder 5/145 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 4/146 (18 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Rachael Haynes 43 (30) Jemma Barsby 2/32 (4 overs) | | Grace Harris 57 (45) Samantha Bates 2/23 (3 overs) |

* Brisbane Heat won by 6 wickets (with 12 balls remaining) Brisbane Cricket Ground Umpires: Murray Branch and Stephen Dionysius Player of the match: Grace Harris (Heat)
* Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 56 28 January 2018 14:00 Scorecard

| Sydney Thunder 8/117 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 115 (17.4 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Nicola Carey 26 (26) Jemma Barsby 4/2 (2 overs) | | Jess Jonassen 33 (21) Belinda Vakarewa 3/17 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Thunder won by 2 runs Allan Border Field, Brisbane Umpires: Murray Branch and Steven Farrell Player of the match: Belinda Vakarewa (Thunder)
* Brisbane Heat won the toss and elected to field
* Streamed on cricket.com.au

### Knockout phase

* Semi-final 1 1 February 2018 12:10 Scorecard

| Perth Scorchers 2/148 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 8/121 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Natalie Sciver 38 (28) Stafanie Taylor 1/23 (4 overs) | | Fran Wilson 46 (28) Emma King 3/17 (4 overs) |

* Perth Scorchers won by 27 runs Optus Stadium, Perth Umpires: Geoff Joshua and Tony Wilds Player of the match: Emma King (Scorchers)
* Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
* Played as a double header with BBL semi-final 1
* Broadcast by Network Ten

## Statistics and awards

* Most runs: Rachael Haynes – 426 (6th in the league)
* Highest score in an innings: Alex Blackwell – 81* (58) vs Perth Scorchers, 8 January 2018
* Most wickets: Nicola Carey, Rene Farrell – 17 each (equal 4th in the league)
* Best bowling figures in an innings: Stafanie Taylor – 4/15 (4 overs) vs Hobart Hurricanes, 30 December 2017
* Most catches (fielder): Naomi Stalenberg – 9 (equal 3rd in the league)
* Player of the Match awards:
   * Rachael Haynes – 2
   * Samantha Bates, Alex Blackwell, Nicola Carey, Rene Farrell, Rachel Priest, Naomi Stalenberg, Stafanie Taylor, Belinda Vakarewa – 1 each
* Thunder Most Valuable Player: Rachael Haynes
* WBBL|03 Team of the Tournament: Rene Farrell
* WBBL|03 Young Gun Award: Belinda Vakarewa (nominated)
