Two Sides Still Looking for a First Win — and Only One Can Leave Allan Border Field With It
Brisbane Heat have lost close ones; Hobart Hurricanes have lost three in a row. At Allan Border Field on Saturday evening, the early-season table makes this something close to a must-win for both. The Heat have runs at the top. The Hurricanes have Nicola Carey in form. What neither has yet is the habit of finishing games off.
Brisbane Heat — runs on the board, but not enough
The Heat's two defeats have both come with respectable totals. Against the Sixers at this ground they made 154 for 5 and lost off the final ball. Against the Thunder at Drummoyne they made 178 for 5 and watched it chased down with 20 balls to spare. Georgia Redmayne has made 58 and 57; Charli Knott 57 and 16; Grace Harris found her range with 58 off 37 against the Thunder.
So the top order is doing its job. The bowling is where the questions are. Sarah Glenn's 4-0-16-1 against the Sixers was outstanding, and Sianna Ginger and Knott have taken wickets, but at Drummoyne the Thunder went at more than ten an over. The Heat also face the Strikers on Thursday, and the bowling plans from that game will tell us a lot.
A possible XI, if the combination stays: Knott, Harris, Redmayne (wk), Bhatia, Prendergast, O'Neil, Hamilton, Ginger, Glenn, Bassingthwaighte, Kato-Stafford.
Hobart Hurricanes — Carey carrying the load
Three games, three losses: by 18 runs to the Stars, by 87 to the Sixers after Ashleigh Gardner's 124, and by four wickets to the Renegades with a ball to spare. That last one was the closest they have come, and Nicola Carey was at the centre of it — 62 off 43 with the bat and 2 for 30 with the ball. Heather Graham took 3 for 24 and very nearly bowled them to a win.
The worry is at the top. Lizelle Lee made 57 off 33 in the opener and then 5 and 6; Chamari Athapaththu has made 10, 10 and 9. When those two go early, the Hurricanes have been leaning on Carey, Maddy Green and Chinelle Henry (36 off 18 in Hobart) to rebuild. A side with that much overseas firepower at the top should not be scrapping for 150, and you suspect one big innings from Lee or Athapaththu is not far away.
A possible XI: Lee, Athapaththu, Trenaman, Carey, Graham, Green, Henry, Silver-Holmes, Smith, Strano, Malgioglio.
The match-up that matters
Glenn's leg-spin against Lee and Athapaththu in the powerplay and just after. Both openers like pace on the ball; Glenn takes it off and makes them generate their own. If the Heat can tie them down early, the pressure falls on a middle order that has had to do too much already.
For the Hurricanes, Graham and Molly Strano against Redmayne will be the key battle. Redmayne has been the Heat's most reliable batter and is good at rotating strike against spin. Taking her wicket before the 12th over might be the best way to stop the Heat reaching the 170s again.
The verdict
The Heat have the home ground, the more productive top order and the better spin bowler in Glenn. The Hurricanes have Carey in form and an opening pair with far more pedigree than their scores suggest. On balance, the Heat may start slight favourites, but this is the kind of game where whichever top order fires decides it — and both are due.
Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes, WBBL 2026, Allan Border Field, Brisbane — Saturday, November 7, 6:10 PM AEST / 1:40 PM IST. Unlock CricIntel Pro for T20 projections and match predictions.