Proteas fast bowler Shabnim Ismail produced a miserly spell of 3 for 10 to help the Sydney Thunder secure their place in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) finals with victory over Hobart Hurricanes.
Ismail’s spell hamstrung the Hurricanes efforts to get going and they would post a paltry 115 for 9 from their 20 overs.
Ismail bringing Thunder and lightning in WBBL
The Thunder completed the chase at a canter and advanced to the finals series which begins later this week.
The 19 dot balls sent down by the Proteas pacer is a new record for a bowler from the Sydney Thunder.
Ismail brings much-needed experience to a young Thunder lineup and she is happy to carry her share of the weight for the team cause even in a franchise setup.
“We are really chuffed and positive going into the finals,” Ismail said after the match.
“This season has been really challenging … for the team, we have a lot of people mention why do we have such a young team?
“But I think the pipeline that we have and the answers coming through just shows what kind of character and what kind of depth we have.”
A plan coming together
Ismail was delighted that their plans to put the Hurricanes on the back foot early paid off.
“We spoke about being ruthless within the first six in the game,” she said, “I think we’ve done that really today … we put them on the back foot which put us in the front seat.
“We’ve got a great batting line-up and a great bowling line=up, it’s just for us to go out there believing in ourselves and just executing those skills the best that we can.
“We would love to keep the momentum on our side … we want to put our best foot forward.”
Ismail is among a number of Proteas competing in the WBBL and has taken 12 wickets in the competition to date, maintaining an economy rate under six runs per over.
Proteas tearing up the WBBL
Other Proteas doing well in the tournament are Marizanne Kapp (Sydney Sixers), Dane van Niekerk (Sydney Sixers), Mignon du Preez (Melbourne Stars), Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers), Lizelle Lee (Melbourne Stars), Chloe Tryon (Hobart Hurricanes).
The Sydney Thunder will face the Brisbane Heat in the second WBBL semi-final on Thursday 26 November while the Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers do battle on Wednesday for the other spot in the grand final.
