Four Defeats, Two Defeats, and a Tuesday Night at Bellerive That Neither Side Can Afford to Lose
Hobart Hurricanes are bottom of the WBBL table without a point after four games. Adelaide Strikers began with a win and have lost both games since, conceding 184 and 188. At Bellerive Oval, the Hurricanes need a first win before the season gets away from them; the Strikers need their bowling to look like it did on the opening weekend.
Hobart Hurricanes — waiting for the top order
Four games, four defeats. The Hurricanes lost by 18 runs to the Stars, by 87 to the Sixers, by four wickets to the Renegades with one ball left, and on Saturday by four wickets to the Heat at Allan Border Field, with ten balls left. The last two were close enough to hurt. Against the Renegades in Hobart they made 154 for 7, with Nicola Carey scoring 62 off 43, and nearly defended it. Against the Heat they managed only 116 for 9, and Rachel Trenaman's 25 was the top score.
The problem is still at the top. Lizelle Lee made 57 in the opener and has scored 5, 6 and 2 since. Chamari Athapaththu was bowled first ball on Saturday and has not yet passed ten. When both go early, the rest of the order is asked to rebuild from nothing, and it has not been able to. Carey was not in the XI in Brisbane, and whether she returns for this game may matter as much as anything else: she has been their best player with bat and ball.
There have been good signs with the ball. Heather Graham took 3 for 24 against the Renegades and 2 for 20 against the Heat, and Lauren Smith went for only 13 in three overs on Saturday. A possible XI, based on Saturday's side with Carey returning if fit: Lee, Athapaththu, Trenaman, Carey, Graham, Maddy Green, Chinelle Henry, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Molly Strano, Lauren Smith, Isabella Malgioglio.
Adelaide Strikers — runs at the top, leaks at the death
The Strikers started well, beating the Stars by 21 runs at Karen Rolton Oval with 185 for 2, Laura Wolvaardt making 70 and Amanda-Jade Wellington taking 3 for 28. Since then they have lost twice. The Heat made 184 for 4 against them at Drummoyne, with Charli Knott scoring 104, and the Strikers fell 14 short despite Wolvaardt's 75 and Madeline Penna's 68. Then, on Saturday at Junction Oval, the Renegades made 188 for 3, Georgia Wareham hitting 73 off 31, and the Strikers lost by 36.
The batting is the stronger half. Wolvaardt has made 70 and 75 and Penna has scored quickly in all three games. Maia Bouchier made 54 off 38 on Saturday. The concern is the bowling, and especially the last few overs. Sophie Ecclestone has been tidy, with 4-0-18-1 against the Heat, but Megan Schutt has gone for 36 in four overs in each of the last two games, and Wellington went for 43 on Saturday. A Hobart pitch that helps the seamers early may suit Schutt better.
A possible XI, based on Saturday's side: Emma de Broughe, Bouchier, Wolvaardt, Tahlia McGrath (c), Penna, Bridget Patterson, Wellington, Ecclestone, Eleanor Larosa, Schutt, Anesu Mushangwe.
The table and the form
| Hobart Hurricanes | 8th — P4 W0 L4, 0 pts, NRR -1.557 |
| Adelaide Strikers | 7th — P3 W1 L2, 2 pts, NRR -0.483 |
| Hurricanes last game | 116/9 lost to Heat by 4 wickets |
| Strikers last game | 152/8 lost to Renegades by 36 runs |
| Laura Wolvaardt | 70, 75, 2 |
| Heather Graham | 3/24 v Renegades, 2/20 v Heat |
Table as of Sunday morning, November 8; two WBBL games on Sunday may change the positions.
Pitch and conditions
Bellerive is a good batting ground in the evening, but the early overs under lights can give the seamers some movement, and a cool Hobart night can make the ball skid on. When the Renegades chased 155 here, they needed until the final over. A total of around 160 may be a fair one, and the side that keeps wickets in hand through the powerplay will probably be in front. Ecclestone and Wellington give the Strikers two experienced spinners for the middle overs, and that may be where the game is decided.
The verdict
The Strikers have more runs in their top order, and Wolvaardt in this kind of form is hard to stop. That is why we lean towards them, narrowly. But the Hurricanes are at home, they have lost two close games in a row, and a side with Lee and Athapaththu at the top will not keep missing forever. If one of them goes big and Graham bowls as she has, the Hurricanes could finally get off the mark. Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers, WBBL 2026, Bellerive Oval — Tuesday, November 10, 7:10 PM AEDT / 1:40 PM IST.