2017–18 Sydney Sixers WBBL season
# 2017–18 Sydney Sixers WBBL season

The 2017–18 Sydney Sixers Women's season was the third in the team's history. Coached by Ben Sawyer and captained by Ellyse Perry, the Sixers entered WBBL|03 as the defending champions. They finished the regular season on top of the points table for the second season in a row and proceeded to reach a third-consecutive championship decider.

In the final, the Sixers claimed back-to-back titles with a comfortable nine-wicket defeat of the Perth Scorchers at Adelaide Oval, during which Sarah Coyte punctuated an emphatic return to top-level domestic cricket by claiming figures of 4/17 and earning Player of the Match honours.

## 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 the Sixers ahead of the season included:

* Lisa Sthalekar retired at the conclusion of WBBL|02.
* Rhiannon Dick departed the team and subsequently joined the Adelaide Strikers.
* Erin Burns joined the team after departing the Hobart Hurricanes.
* Lauren Cheatle signed a three-year contract with the team, departing the Sydney Thunder. However, she would miss the entire season due to a back stress fracture injury.

The backend of the tournament was notable for the comeback of medium-pace bowler Sarah Coyte, who had previously played for the Adelaide Strikers until retiring at the conclusion of WBBL|02. With South African marquee players Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk unavailable for the climax of the competition, coach Ben Sawyer approached Coyte—who had been playing cricket for her local club Penrith occasionally during the summer—about signing for the Sixers as a replacement player. Upon returning to the league, she delivered "exemplary bowling" performances to claim ten wickets at an average of 8.10 in four matches.

England marquee Amy Jones also signed as a replacement player for the Sixers, having performed a similar role for the team during WBBL|02.

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 ||||||||||||||
| 29 | Erin Burns | 22 June 1988 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 16 | 285 | 118.25 | 4 | 6.14 | 9 | – | |
| 40 | Amy Jones | 13 June 1993 | Right-handed | – | 4 | 19 | 76.00 | – | – | 0 | – | Marquee replacement |
| 28 | Sara McGlashan | 28 March 1982 | Right-handed | – | 16 | 145 | 97.97 | – | – | 3 | – | Overseas marquee |
| 33 | Angela Reakes | 27 December 1990 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg spin | 15 | 60 | 120.00 | 0 | 10.00 | 4 | – | |
| All-rounders ||||||||||||||
| 6 | Ashleigh Gardner | 15 April 1997 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 14 | 347 | 138.80 | 5 | 6.89 | 4 | – | |
| 4 | Jodie Hicks | 19 January 1997 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 5 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | |
| 13 | Clara Iemma | 31 October 1998 | Left-handed | Right-arm off spin | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 9 | Emily Leys | 18 February 1993 | Left-handed | Left-arm medium | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 8 | Ellyse Perry | 3 November 1990 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | 16 | 552 | 98.57 | 5 | 7.10 | 3 | – | Captain, Australian marquee |
| 20 | Dane van Niekerk | 14 May 1993 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg spin | 12 | 145 | 115.07 | 20 | 5.57 | 7 | – | Overseas marquee |
| Wicket-keeper ||||||||||||||
| 77 | Alyssa Healy | 24 March 1990 | Right-handed | – | 16 | 421 | 136.68 | – | – | 8 | 6 | Australian marquee |
| Bowlers ||||||||||||||
| 3 | Sarah Aley | 3 June 1984 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 16 | 29 | 116.00 | 23 | 6.13 | 0 | – | |
| 5 | Lauren Cheatle | 6 November 1998 | Left-handed | Left-arm fast medium | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 14 | Sarah Coyte | 30 March 1991 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 4 | – | – | 10 | 5.06 | 1 | – | Marquee replacement |
| 34 | Kim Garth | 25 April 1996 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast medium | 14 | 3 | 37.50 | 13 | 5.86 | 5 | – | Associate rookie |
| 17 | Marizanne Kapp | 4 January 1990 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast medium | 12 | 50 | 76.92 | 12 | 4.72 | 3 | – | Overseas marquee |
| 74 | Carly Leeson | 9 November 1998 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 2 | Lauren Smith | 6 October 1996 | Right-handed | Right-arm off spin | 16 | 26 | 123.80 | 7 | 7.76 | 6 | – | |

## 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

### Regular season

* Match 3 9 December 2017 18:15 (D/N) Scorecard

| Sydney Sixers 4/242 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 7/156 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Ashleigh Gardner 114 (52) Erin Osborne 2/33 (4 overs) | | Lizelle Lee 64 (36) Sarah Aley 2/30 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 86 runs North Sydney Oval No. 2 Umpires: Marc Nickl and Ben Treloar Player of the match: Ashleigh Gardner (Sixers)
* Melbourne Stars 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 7 12 December 2017 12:00 Scorecard

| Sydney Sixers 8/122 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 1/123 (18.2 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Erin Burns 33 (25) Katherine Brunt, Emma King 2/19 (4 overs) | | Elyse Villani 74* (61) Sarah Aley 1/22 (4 overs) |

* Perth Scorchers won by 9 wickets (with 10 balls remaining) North Dalton Park, Wollongong Umpires: Ryan Nelson and Marc Nickl Player of the match: Elyse Villani (Scorchers)
* Perth Scorchers won the toss and elected to field
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 12 17 December 2017 14:00 Scorecard

| Sydney Sixers 8/152 (20 overs) | v | Hobart Hurricanes 8/119 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Ellyse Perry 65 (49) Hayley Matthews 2/29 (4 overs) | | Veronica Pyke 35* (26) Dane van Niekerk 4/20 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 33 runs Blundstone Arena, Hobart Umpires: Muhammad Qureshi and Harvey Wolff Player of the match: Dane van Niekerk (Sixers)
* Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Dane van Niekerk became the fourth player to take a hat-trick in the WBBL
* Match 15 23 December 2017 12:20 Scorecard

| Hobart Hurricanes 98 (19.4 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 1/99 (13.5 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Veda Krishnamurthy 16 (17) Dane van Niekerk 2/18 (4 overs) | | Erin Burns 48* (38) Nicola Hancock 1/14 (2 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 9 wickets (with 37 balls remaining) Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Umpires: Ryan Nelson and Claire Polosak Player of the match: Marizanne Kapp (Sixers)
* Hobart Hurricanes won the toss and elected to bat
* Broadcast by Network Ten
* Double header with Match 5 of the Men's BBL
* Match 20 30 December 2017 13:00 Scorecard

| Sydney Sixers 138 (19.5 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 4/139 (18.5 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Ellyse Perry 45 (47) Nicole Bolton 2/15 (3 overs) | | Elyse Villani 63 (43) Dane van Niekerk 2/24 (4 overs) |

* Perth Scorchers won by 6 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) Lilac Hill, Perth Umpires: John Taylor and Trent Steenholdt Player of the match: Nicole Bolton (Scorchers)
* Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 24 2 January 2018 14:00 Scorecard

| Sydney Sixers 7/128 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Renegades 92 (19 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Ellyse Perry 64 (56) Hayley Jensen 2/13 (3 overs) | | Jess Duffin 35 (42) Dane van Niekerk 4/13 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 36 runs Camberwell Sports Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Dale Ireland and Daryl Brigham Player of the match: Ellyse Perry (Sixers)
* Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to field
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 25 3 January 2018 14:20 Scorecard

| Melbourne Renegades 7/120 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 7/120 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Amy Satterthwaite 44 (44) Dane van Niekerk 2/25 (4 overs) | | Ellyse Perry 37 (41) Chamari Atapattu 2/6 (2 overs) |

* Match Tied (Melbourne Renegades won the Super Over) GMHBA Stadium, Geelong Umpires: Stephen Brne and Dale Ireland Player of the match: Amy Satterthwaite (Renegades)
* Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to bat
* 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 40 18 January 2018 14:30 Scorecard

| Sydney Sixers 5/160 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 151 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Alyssa Healy 70 (43) Jemma Barsby 2/19 (3 overs) | | Beth Mooney 60 (42) Sarah Aley 3/31 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 9 runs Sydney Cricket Ground Umpires: Anthony Hobson and Marc Nickl Player of the match: Dane van Niekerk (Sixers)
* Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 41 19 January 2018 14:00 Scorecard

| Sydney Sixers 7/144 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 4/126 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Erin Burns 54* (39) Delissa Kimmince 3/23 (4 overs) | | Jess Jonassen 55* (38) Lauren Smith 1/13 (3 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 18 runs Hurstville Oval, Sydney Umpires: Anthony Hobson and T Penman Player of the match: Erin Burns (Sixers)
* Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 46 21 January 2018 14:00 Scorecard

| Melbourne Stars 7/106 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 5/107 (18 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Erin Osborne 39 (43) Marizanne Kapp 2/13 (4 overs) | | Ellyse Perry 39* (45) Annabel Sutherland 1/13 (3 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 5 wickets (with 12 balls remaining) Casey Fields No. 4, Melbourne Umpires: Stephen Brne and Dale Ireland Player of the match: Ellyse Perry (Sixers)
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 50 27 January 2018 14:00 Scorecard

| Adelaide Strikers 4/149 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 3/150 (19.2 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Sophie Devine 70 (45) Sarah Coyte 2/14 (4 overs) | | Alyssa Healy 106 (66) Megan Schutt 1/26 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 7 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) Hurstville Oval, Sydney Umpires: Anthony Hobson and T Penman Player of the match: Alyssa Healy (Sixers)
* Adelaide Strikers won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au
* Match 55 28 January 2018 14:00 Scorecard

| Adelaide Strikers 9/111 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 2/112 (18.1 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Tammy Beaumont 28 (31) Sarah Coyte 3/18 (4 overs) | | Alyssa Healy 63 (52) Alex Price 1/16 (2 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 7 wickets (with 11 balls remaining) Hurstville Oval, Sydney Umpires: T Penman and G Stubbings Player of the match: Sarah Coyte (Sixers)
* Adelaide Strikers won the toss and elected to bat
* Streamed on cricket.com.au

### Knockout phase

* Semi-final 2 2 February 2018 14:40 Scorecard

| Sydney Sixers 5/138 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 9/121 (20 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Ashleigh Gardner 72 (45) Sophie Devine 2/21 (4 overs) | | Tammy Beaumont 50 (46) Sarah Aley 4/18 (4 overs) |

* Sydney Sixers won by 17 runs Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Michael Graham-Smith and John Ward Player of the match: Sarah Aley (Sixers)
* Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat
* Played as a double header with BBL semi-final 2
* Broadcast by Network Ten
* Final 4 February 2018 11:50 Scorecard

| Perth Scorchers 99 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 1/100 (15 overs) |
| - | - | - |
| Piepa Cleary 18* (14) Sarah Coyte 4/17 (3 overs) | | Alyssa Healy 41 (32) Emma King 1/26 |

* Sydney Sixers won by 9 wickets (with 30 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Greg Davidson and John Ward Player of the match: Sarah Coyte (Sixers)
* Perth Scorchers won the toss and elected to bat
* Sydney Sixers won their second WBBL title
* Played as a double header with BBL final
* Broadcast by Network Ten

## Statistics and awards

* Most runs: Ellyse Perry – 552 (1st in the league)
* Highest score in an innings: Ashleigh Gardner – 114 (52) vs Melbourne Stars, 9 December 2017
* Most wickets: Sarah Aley – 23 (equal 1st in the league)
* Best bowling figures in an innings: Dane van Niekerk – 4/13 (4 overs) vs Melbourne Renegades, 2 January 2018
* Most catches (fielder): Erin Burns – 9 (equal 3rd in the league)
* Player of the Match awards:
   * Sarah Coyte, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Dane van Niekerk – 2 each
   * Sarah Aley, Erin Burns, Marizanne Kapp – 1 each
* Sixers Player of the Tournament: Ellyse Perry
* WBBL|03 Player of the Tournament: Ellyse Perry (3rd)
* WBBL|03 Team of the Tournament: Sarah Aley, Ellyse Perry, Dane van Niekerk
* WBBL|03 Young Gun Award: Ashleigh Gardner (nominated)
