| Dates | 14 October 2021 (2021-10-14) – 27 November 2021 (2021-11-27) |
|---|---|
| Administrator | Cricket Australia |
| Cricket format | Twenty20 |
| Tournament format(s) | Doubleround-robin and knockout finals |
| Champions | Perth Scorchers (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Adelaide Strikers |
| Participants | 8 |
| Matches | 59 |
| Player of the series | Harmanpreet Kaur(MLR) |
| Most runs | Beth Mooney(PRS) – 547 |
| Most wickets | Amanda-Jade Wellington(ADS) – 23 |
| Official website | WBBL |
2022–23 → | |
The2021–22 Women's Big Bash League season orWBBL|07 was the seventh season of theWomen's Big Bash League (WBBL), the semi-professionalwomen'sTwenty20 domestic cricket competition in Australia. The tournament was played from 14 October to 27 November 2021.[1][2] TheSydney Thunder entered the season as the defending champions, having won their second title inWBBL|06,[3] but failed to qualify for theknockout stage.
In thechampionship decider, played atPerth Stadium, thePerth Scorchers defeated theAdelaide Strikers by 12 runs.[4]Marizanne Kapp was named Player of the Final for her influential all-round performance, scoring 31* off 23 deliveries and producing bowling figures of 1/25 from four overs to help the Scorchers claim their maiden WBBL title.[5]
Indian marqueeHarmanpreet Kaur was namedPlayer of the Tournament in her first season with theMelbourne Renegades, marking the first time the award was not won by a player from Australia or New Zealand.[6]
Each squad was made up of 15 active players. Teams could sign up to five 'marquee players', with a maximum of three of those from overseas. Marquees were defined as any overseas player, or a local player who holds aCricket Australia national contract at the start of the WBBL|07 signing period.[7]
Due to state border restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cricket Australia announced there would be no WBBL|07 matches played inNew South Wales andVictoria. Consequently, half of the league's teams (theMelbourne Renegades,Melbourne Stars,Sydney Sixers andSydney Thunder) were unable to host home games for the season. Due to renovation works on their regular primary ground atAllan Border Field, theBrisbane Heat played home games inMackay for the season.[8]
The table below lists each team's marquee players and other key details for the season.
The table below lists local player movements made ahead of the season.
| Player | Departed | → | Joined | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alana King | Melbourne Stars | → | Perth Scorchers | [9] | |
| Molly Strano | Melbourne Renegades | → | Hobart Hurricanes | [10] | |
| Nicole Bolton | Perth Scorchers | → | Sydney Sixers | [11] | |
| Holly Ferling | Melbourne Stars | → | Melbourne Renegades | Third WBBL team (previously played for theBrisbane Heat) | [12] |
| Corinne Hall | Hobart Hurricanes | → | Sydney Thunder | Outgoing captain (7–27 win–loss record) | [13] |
| Maitlan Brown | Melbourne Renegades | → | Sydney Sixers | [14] | |
| Rachel Trenaman | Sydney Thunder | → | Hobart Hurricanes | Unavailable for the season due to injury | [15][16] |
| Sarah Aley | Sydney Sixers | → | – | Retired | [17] |
| Delissa Kimmince | Brisbane Heat | → | – | Retired | [18] |
| Emma King | Perth Scorchers | → | – | Retired | [19] |
| Ellie Falconer | Adelaide Strikers | → | Melbourne Renegades | [20] | |
| Rhiann O'Donnell | – | → | Melbourne Renegades |
| [21] |
| Jemma Barsby | Perth Scorchers | → | Adelaide Strikers | Third WBBL team (previously played for the Brisbane Heat) | [22] |
| Nell Bryson-Smith | Hobart Hurricanes | → | Adelaide Strikers | Replacement player in WBBL|06 | [23] |
| Brooke Hepburn | Hobart Hurricanes | → | – | Retired | [24] |
| Maddy Darke | Sydney Sixers | → | Melbourne Stars | [25] | |
| Lisa Griffith | Sydney Sixers | → | Perth Scorchers | Third WBBL team (previously played for the Sydney Thunder) | [26] |
| Lilly Mills | Brisbane Heat | → | Perth Scorchers | [26] | |
| Ashley Day | – | → | Perth Scorchers | Previously played for the Hobart Hurricanes | [7] |
On 26 September 2021, theSydney Thunder announced the signings of overseas marqueesSmriti Mandhana andDeepti Sharma, meaning WBBL|07 would feature Indian players in the league for the first time since the2018–19 season.[27]
The table below lists changes to overseas player allocations made ahead of the season.
| Player | Departed | → | Joined | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marizanne Kapp | Sydney Sixers | → | Perth Scorchers | [28] | |
| Chamari Athapaththu | – | → | Perth Scorchers | Previously played for theMelbourne Renegades | [28] |
| Dane van Niekerk | Sydney Sixers | → | Adelaide Strikers | Third WBBL team (previously played for the Melbourne Renegades) | [29][30] |
| Kim Garth | – | → | Melbourne Stars | Previously played for the Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers | [31] |
| Anneke Bosch | – | → | Brisbane Heat | [32] | |
| Mignon du Preez | Melbourne Stars | → | Hobart Hurricanes | [33] | |
| Amelia Kerr | Brisbane Heat | → | – | [34] | |
| Maia Bouchier | – | → | Melbourne Stars | [35] | |
| Evelyn Jones | – | → | Melbourne Renegades | [36] | |
| Lizelle Lee | Melbourne Renegades | → | – | Signed with the Hobart Hurricanes but withdrew from the tournament | [37] |
| Smriti Mandhana | – | → | Sydney Thunder | Third WBBL team (previously played for the Brisbane Heat and the Hobart Hurricanes) | [27] |
| Deepti Sharma | – | → | Sydney Thunder | [27] | |
| Heather Knight | Sydney Thunder | → | – | [27] | |
| Tammy Beaumont | Sydney Thunder | → | – | [27] | |
| Shafali Verma | – | → | Sydney Sixers | [38] | |
| Radha Yadav | – | → | Sydney Sixers | [38] | |
| Shabnim Ismail | Sydney Thunder | → | – | Withdrew due to knee injury | [39] |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | – | → | Melbourne Renegades | [16] | |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | – | → | Melbourne Renegades | Previously played for the Sydney Thunder | [16] |
| Amy Satterthwaite | Melbourne Renegades | → | – | Outgoing captain (17–23 win–loss record) | [16] |
| Lea Tahuhu | Melbourne Renegades | → | – | [16] | |
| Suzie Bates | Adelaide Strikers | → | – | Outgoing captain (24–21 win–loss record) | [40] |
| Richa Ghosh | – | → | Hobart Hurricanes | [41] | |
| Hayley Matthews | Hobart Hurricanes | → | – | [24] | |
| Chloe Tryon | Hobart Hurricanes | → | – | [24] | |
| Issy Wong | – | → | Sydney Thunder | [42] | |
| Katherine Brunt | Melbourne Stars | → | – | [43] | |
| Sarah Glenn | Perth Scorchers | → | – | [43] | |
| Amy Jones | Perth Scorchers | → | – | [43] | |
| Nat Sciver | Melbourne Stars | → | – | [43] | |
| Linsey Smith | – | → | Melbourne Stars | [25] | |
| Stafanie Taylor | Adelaide Strikers | → | – | [7] | |
| Poonam Yadav | – | → | Brisbane Heat | [26] | |
| Maddy Green | Brisbane Heat | → | – | [26] |
Coaching changes made ahead of the season included:
Captaincy changes made ahead of the season included:
Coverage of the league received a boost from the previous season with subscription channelFox Cricket broadcasting an additional 23 matches, marking the first time every match would be televised.Seven Network would again broadcast 24 matches on free-to-air television, while the remaining 35 matches were free to stream live on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app. All 59 matches were also available to watch live and on-demand viaKayo Sports.[8]
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| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perth Scorchers(C) | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 0.649 |
| 2 | Melbourne Renegades(CF) | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 18 | −0.149 |
| 3 | Brisbane Heat(EF) | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 0.517 |
| 4 | Adelaide Strikers(RU) | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 0.707 |
| 5 | Melbourne Stars | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 12 | −0.385 |
| 6 | Hobart Hurricanes | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 11 | −0.258 |
| 7 | Sydney Thunder | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 10 | −0.301 |
| 8 | Sydney Sixers | 14 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 9 | −0.704 |
Below is a summary of results for each team's fourteen regular season matches, plus finals where applicable, in chronological order. A team's opponent for any given match is listed above the margin of victory/defeat.
| Team's results→ | Won | Tied | Lost | N/R |
|---|
As per all previous seasons, WBBL|07 featured a 56-match doubleround-robin, followed by a finals series featuring the top four qualifiers.[2] The original fixture was released on 8 July 2021, with Cricket Australia (CA) noting the schedule was subject to any changes that may be required in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[54][55]
On 16 September, CA announced the opening fortnight of the competition would be shifted toTasmania. 20 games featuring all eight teams were scheduled to be played at three venues, beginning withBlundstone Arena inHobart before moving toUniversity of Tasmania Stadium and its neighbouring Invermay Park inLaunceston.[56] On 7 October, CA revealed the revised schedule for the remaining 36 regular season games, which consisted of blocks of matches inPerth, Launceston,Adelaide andMackay.[8]
On 8 November, CA confirmed thelast week of the regular season (November 17–21) would be the inaugural WBBL First Nations Round,[57] intending to mark the league's commitment to deepening education and meaningful connection withIndigenous People of Australia.[58] During the round, teams wore Indigenous kits designed byAboriginal andTorres Strait Islanders artists, and observedWelcome to Country andsmoking ceremonies.[59]
Melbourne Stars 1/99 (11 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 4/100 (10.2 overs) |
Elyse Villani 54* (31) |
Sydney Sixers won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) Blundstone Arena,Hobart Umpires: Roberto Howard and David Taylor Player of the match:Alyssa Healy (Sydney Sixers) |
Hobart Hurricanes 121 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Renegades 125/4 (19.2 overs) |
Melbourne Renegades won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) Blundstone Arena,Hobart Umpires: Andrew Crozier andClaire Polosak Player of the match:Georgia Wareham (Melbourne Renegades) |
Adelaide Strikers 7/140 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 110 (19.2 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers won by 30 runs Blundstone Arena,Hobart Umpires:Simon Lightbody and Mattis van Eck Player of the match:Tahlia McGrath (Adelaide Strikers) |
Perth Scorchers 7/137 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 9/137 (20 overs) |
Match tied (Perth Scorchers won theSuper Over) Blundstone Arena,Hobart Umpires:Claire Polosak and Mattis van Eck Player of the match:Alana King (Perth Scorchers) |
Hobart Hurricanes 9/125 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 5/129 (19.3 overs) |
Sydney Sixers won by 5 wickets (with 3 balls remaining) Blundstone Arena,Hobart Umpires: Roberto Howard and David Taylor Player of the match:Shafali Verma (Sydney Sixers) |
Hobart Hurricanes 4/152 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 89 (19.2 overs) |
Hobart Hurricanes won by 63 runs Blundstone Arena,Hobart Umpires:Simon Lightbody and Mattis van Eck Player of the match:Rachel Priest (Hobart Hurricanes) |
Brisbane Heat 5/162 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 103 (17.2 overs) |
Brisbane Heat won by 59 runs Blundstone Arena,Hobart Umpires: Andrew Crozier andJeremiah Matibiri Player of the match:Georgia Redmayne (Brisbane Heat) |
Melbourne Renegades 6/126 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 2/129 (17.3 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers won by 8 wickets (with 15 balls remaining) Blundstone Arena,Hobart Umpires: Muhammad Qureshi and David Taylor Player of the match:Tahlia McGrath (Adelaide Strikers) |
Melbourne Stars 3/139 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 8/109 (20 overs) |
Melbourne Stars won by 30 runs Blundstone Arena,Hobart Umpires: Roberto Howard and Mattis van Eck Player of the match:Annabel Sutherland (Melbourne Stars) |
Hobart Hurricanes 5/107 (16 overs) | v | |
v | ||
Match abandoned University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires: Simon Lightbody andJeremiah Matibiri |
Brisbane Heat 5/104 (11 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 4/99 (11 overs) |
Brisbane Heat won by 5 runs Invermay Park,Launceston Umpires: Roberto Howard and Muhammad Qureshi Player of the match:Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers) |
Sydney Sixers 4/118 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Renegades 3/120 (17 overs) |
Melbourne Renegades won by 7 wickets (with 18 balls remaining) University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires:Shawn Craig and Mattis van Eck Player of the match:Harmanpreet Kaur (Melbourne Renegades) |
Perth Scorchers 2/186 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 9/105 (20 overs) |
Perth Scorchers won by 81 runs University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires: Andrew Crozier and Simon Lightbody Player of the match:Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers) |
Melbourne Stars 7/108 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 5/96 (20 overs) |
Melbourne Stars won by 12 runs University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires: Andrew Crozier and David Taylor Player of the match:Kim Garth (Melbourne Stars) |
Hobart Hurricanes 8/132 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 2/138 (18.3 overs) |
Brisbane Heat won by 8 wickets (with 9 balls remaining) University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires:Shawn Craig and Muhammad Qureshi Player of the match:Grace Harris (Brisbane Heat) |
Melbourne Renegades 5/142 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 8/133 (20 overs) |
Melbourne Renegades won by 9 runs University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires: Andrew Crozier and Roberto Howard Player of the match:Jemimah Rodrigues (Melbourne Renegades) |
Melbourne Stars 4/144 (20 overs) | v | Hobart Hurricanes 4/147 (19.2 overs) |
Hobart Hurricanes won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires: Simon Lightbody andClaire Polosak Player of the match:Mignon du Preez (Hobart Hurricanes) |
Melbourne Renegades 7/142 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 9/130 (20 overs) |
Melbourne Renegades won by 12 runs Lilac Hill Park,Perth Umpires: Trent Steenholdt and Jamie Thomas Player of the match:Jess Duffin (Melbourne Renegades) |
Sydney Thunder 5/133 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 8/114 (20 overs) |
Sydney Thunder won by 19 runs University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires: Roberto Howard andJeremiah Matibiri Player of the match:Samantha Bates (Sydney Thunder) |
Perth Scorchers 5/121 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 8/121 (20 overs) |
Match tied (Perth Scorchers won theSuper Over) Lilac Hill Park,Perth Umpires: Jarryd Buscall and Nathan Johnstone Player of the match:Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers) |
Brisbane Heat 6/170 (20 overs) | v | Hobart Hurricanes 9/156 (20 overs) |
Brisbane Heat won by 14 runs University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires: Simon Burns and Andrew Crozier Player of the match:Grace Harris (Brisbane Heat) |
Sydney Thunder 6/146 (20 overs) | v | Hobart Hurricanes 8/109 (20 overs) |
Sydney Thunder won by 37 runs University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires:Shawn Craig and Roberto Howard Player of the match:Deepti Sharma (Sydney Thunder) |
Adelaide Strikers 5/160 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Renegades 4/162 (19.4 overs) |
Melbourne Renegades won by 6 wickets (with 2 balls remaining) Lilac Hill Park,Perth Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and Jamie Thomas Player of the match:Harmanpreet Kaur (Melbourne Renegades) |
Brisbane Heat 9/95 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 2/99 (16.4 overs) |
Melbourne Stars won by 8 wickets (with 20 balls remaining) University of Tasmania Stadium,Launceston Umpires: Andrew Crozier and David Taylor Player of the match:Tess Flintoff (Melbourne Stars) |
Sydney Sixers 3/161 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 9/117 (20 overs) |
Sydney Sixers won by 44 runs Lilac Hill Park,Perth Umpires: Jarryd Buscall and Trent Steenholdt Player of the match:Alyssa Healy (Sydney Sixers) |
Sydney Sixers 4/141 (20 overs) | v | Hobart Hurricanes 7/110 (20 overs) |
Sydney Sixers won by 31 runs WACA Ground,Perth Umpires: Trent Steenholdt and Dean Trigg Player of the match:Ashleigh Gardner (Sydney Sixers) |
Perth Scorchers 2/194 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Renegades 6/154 (20 overs) |
Perth Scorchers won by 40 runs WACA Ground,Perth Umpires: Jarryd Buscall and Nathan Johnstone Player of the match:Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers) |
Melbourne Renegades 4/207 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 192 (20 overs) |
Melbourne Renegades won by 15 runs Karen Rolton Oval,Adelaide Umpires:Shawn Craig and Harsimran Singh Player of the match:Harmanpreet Kaur (Melbourne Renegades) |
Melbourne Stars 4/126 (14 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 8/89 (14 overs) |
Melbourne Stars won by 37 runs Karen Rolton Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Simon Lightbody and David Taylor Player of the match:Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars) |
Hobart Hurricanes 8/137 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 8/135 (20 overs) |
Hobart Hurricanes won by 2 runs WACA Ground,Perth Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and Dean Trigg Player of the match:Rachel Priest (Hobart Hurricanes) |
Sydney Thunder 7/143 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 5/144 (18.2 overs) |
Brisbane Heat won by 5 wickets (with 10 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval,Adelaide Umpires:Claire Polosak and Harsimran Singh Player of the match:Georgia Redmayne (Brisbane Heat) |
Melbourne Stars 103 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Renegades 3/104 (14.1 overs) |
Melbourne Renegades won by 7 wickets (with 35 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Simon Lightbody andEloise Sheridan Player of the match:Sophie Molineux (Melbourne Renegades) |
Hobart Hurricanes 96 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 5/99 (15.3 overs) |
Perth Scorchers won by 5 wickets (with 27 balls remaining) WACA Ground,Perth Umpires: Jarryd Buscall and Trent Steenholdt Player of the match:Marizanne Kapp (Perth Scorchers) |
Sydney Sixers 2/159 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 2/162 (18.3 overs) |
Brisbane Heat won by 8 wickets (with 9 balls remaining) Karen Rolton Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Dhaval Bhatt and David Taylor Player of the match:Ashleigh Gardner (Sydney Sixers) |
Adelaide Strikers 4/176 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 6/158 (20 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers won by 18 runs Karen Rolton Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and Simon Lightbody Player of the match:Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers) |
Melbourne Stars 9/97 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 0/98 (10.5 overs) |
Beth Mooney 57* (38) |
Perth Scorchers won by 10 wickets (with 55 balls remaining) Karen Rolton Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Dhaval Bhatt and Simon Lightbody Player of the match:Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers) |
Sydney Sixers 4/142 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 2/148 (18.4 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers won by 8 wickets (with 8 balls remaining) Karen Rolton Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and David Taylor Player of the match:Katie Mack (Adelaide Strikers) |
Perth Scorchers 2/184 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 1/21 (2.3 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers 4/142 (20 overs) | v | Hobart Hurricanes 94 (18.2 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers won by 48 runs Harrup Park,Mackay Umpires:Steven Farrell and Simon Lightbody Player of the match:Darcie Brown (Adelaide Strikers) |
Sydney Sixers 7/91 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 7/92 (14.1 overs) |
Brisbane Heat won by 3 wickets (with 35 balls remaining) Harrup Park,Mackay Umpires: Stephen Dionysius andEloise Sheridan Player of the match:Courtney Sippel (Brisbane Heat) |
Brisbane Heat 7/94 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 2/98 (16.2 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers won by 8 wickets (with 22 balls remaining) Harrup Park,Mackay Umpires:Steven Farrell andClaire Polosak Player of the match:Katie Mack (Adelaide Strikers) |
Sydney Sixers 6/94 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 4/96 (15.2 overs) |
Sydney Thunder won by 6 wickets (with 28 balls remaining) Harrup Park,Mackay Umpires: Stephen Dionysius and David Taylor Player of the match:Issy Wong (Sydney Thunder) |
Perth Scorchers 3/177 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 5/165 (20 overs) |
Perth Scorchers won by 12 runs Karen Rolton Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Harsimran Singh and David Taylor Player of the match:Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers) |
Melbourne Renegades 4/175 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 2/171 (20 overs) |
Melbourne Renegades won by 4 runs Harrup Park,Mackay Umpires: Joshua Adie and Nathan James Player of the match:Smriti Mandhana (Sydney Thunder) |
Hobart Hurricanes 5/161 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Renegades 109 (18 overs) |
Hobart Hurricanes won by 52 runs Harrup Park,Mackay Umpires: Stephen Dionysius and Nathan James Player of the match:Ruth Johnston (Hobart Hurricanes) |
Sydney Thunder 5/162 (20 overs) | v | Brisbane Heat 9/153 (20 overs) |
Sydney Thunder won by 9 runs Harrup Park,Mackay Umpires: Joshua Adie andSteven Farrell Player of the match:Sammy-Jo Johnson (Sydney Thunder) |
Melbourne Stars 7/122 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 6/123 (20 overs) |
Perth Scorchers won by 4 wickets (with 0 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval,Adelaide Umpires:Claire Polosak andEloise Sheridan Player of the match:Heather Graham (Perth Scorchers) |
Sydney Sixers 82 (19.2 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 2/84 (10.2 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers won by 8 wickets (with 58 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Harsimran Singh and David Taylor Player of the match:Darcie Brown (Adelaide Strikers) |
Hobart Hurricanes 5/147 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 9/143 (20 overs) |
Hobart Hurricanes won by 4 runs Harrup Park,Mackay Umpires: Joshua Adie and Stephen Dionysius Player of the match:Belinda Vakarewa (Hobart Hurricanes) |
Brisbane Heat 5/156 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Renegades 113 (18.1 overs) |
Brisbane Heat won by 43 runs Harrup Park,Mackay Umpires:Steven Farrell and Nathan James Player of the match:Georgia Redmayne (Brisbane Heat) |
Sydney Sixers 4/128 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 2/131 (17.1 overs) |
Perth Scorchers won by 8 wickets (with 17 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Dhaval Bhatt and Simon Lightbody Player of the match:Alana King (Perth Scorchers) |
Adelaide Strikers 3/175 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 1/181 (19.3 overs) |
Melbourne Stars won by 9 wickets (with 3 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval,Adelaide Umpires:Shawn Craig andClaire Polosak Player of the match:Elyse Villani (Melbourne Stars) |
On 7 September 2021, Cricket Australia announced the WBBL would use a new playoffs format for the 2021–22 season.[76]
The WBBL|07 knockout phase would again feature the four highest-ranked teams at the conclusion of the regular season, though it would begin with an 'Eliminator' between the third and fourth seeds. The winner of the Eliminator would then play the second seed in the 'Challenger'. Both the Eliminator and Challenger matches would be played at the home ground of the second seed.[77] The first seed would automatically qualify for the championship decider, simply known as the 'Final', with home ground advantage against the winner of the Challenger.[78]
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia's General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said "the League views the Final as a marquee moment in the summer" and the highest-ranked qualifier will not only "have a guaranteed path to the Final, they'll also have the backing of a strong home crowd, with fans given more time to secure their ticket to the Final".[79]
Perth Stadium was selected as the venue for the Final after the Perth Scorchers finished the regular season on top of thepoints table.[80] The second-placed Melbourne Renegades selectedAdelaide Oval as the venue for the Eliminator and Challenger due to border restrictions preventing matches from being played in their home state of Victoria.[81][77][82]
| Eliminator | Challenger | Final | |||||||||||
| 1 | Perth Scorchers | 5/146 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Melbourne Renegades | 8/83 | 4 | Adelaide Strikers | 6/134 | ||||||||
| 3 | Brisbane Heat | 8/114 | 4 | Adelaide Strikers | 1/86 | ||||||||
| 4 | Adelaide Strikers | 2/118 | |||||||||||
Brisbane Heat 8/114 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 2/118 (16.3 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers won by 8 wickets (with 21 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval,Adelaide Umpires:Claire Polosak and David Taylor Player of the match:Amanda-Jade Wellington (Adelaide Strikers) |
Melbourne Renegades 8/83 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 1/86 (10.5 overs) |
Adelaide Strikers won by 9 wickets (with 55 balls remaining) Adelaide Oval,Adelaide Umpires: Simon Lightbody andEloise Sheridan Player of the match:Darcie Brown (Adelaide Strikers) |
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Ending the regular season on top of the points table, the Perth Scorchers qualified for their third championship decider. They previously finished as runners-up inWBBL|02 andWBBL|03, losing to the Sydney Sixers on both occasions. CoachShelley Nitschke, considered a legend ofSouth Australian cricket,[84] and captainSophie Devine each played for the Adelaide Strikers in the league's inaugural and subsequent seasons before joining the Scorchers in WBBL|06.
After emphatic victories in the Eliminator and Challenger, the Adelaide Strikers qualified for their second championship decider. They previously finished as runners-up inWBBL|05, losing the final which was defined by a Player of the Match innings from then Brisbane Heat (and now Perth Scorchers) batterBeth Mooney. Members of the Strikers' squad to have won a WBBL title includeSarah Coyte, who was named Player of the Final when the Sixers defeated the Scorchers in 2017–18.
All-roundersMarizanne Kapp andDane van Niekerk were also contributors to the Sixers' past championships but each player moved to new teams, the Scorchers and Strikers respectively, ahead of WBBL|07. They would be the first married couple to compete against one another in a WBBL final—a match-up which garnered media attention with van Niekerk, in an interview days beforehand, noting her own trepidation about facing Kapp's bowling.[85]
While the smallerWACA Ground andLilac Hill Park serve as their typical home venues, the Scorchers selected Perth Stadium to host the Final, where only two WBBL matches had previously been played. Although the Strikers held an overall 8–6 head-to-head edge coming into the Final, the Scorchers won both encounters earlier in the season—onevia Super Over, and the otherby 12 runs.[86]
Perth Scorchers 5/146 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 6/134 (20 overs) |
Perth Scorchers won by 12 runs Perth Stadium,Perth Attendance: 15,511 Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and Simon Lightbody Player of the match:Marizanne Kapp (Perth Scorchers) |
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Batting first, the Scorchers made a cautious start, scoring 18 from the opening four overs. With runs beginning to flow—Sophie Devine cutting the leading wicket-taker of the season,Amanda-Jade Wellington, for back-to-back boundaries in the seventh over—Strikers captainTahlia McGrath brought herself on to bowl with immediate effect, claiming the prized wicket of Beth Mooney for 19. Then, having just reached the halfway point of the innings with her team at 1/65, Devine was run out from a direct hit by Dane van Niekerk. The following over,Chloe Piparo was removed for 19, edging aDarcie Brown outswinger which was caught by wicket-keeperTeagan McPharlin.
Heather Graham and Marizanne Kapp met at the crease in the 12th over, and they put on a partnership of 40 runs from the next 32 balls, ending when Graham was caught at cover for 23. Kapp, in her unbeaten innings of 31 from 23, proceeded to strike two boundaries in the 18th over against Sarah Coyte.Alana King managed similar in the 20th to take the Scorchers to a total of 5/146.
Beginning the run chase in "disarray",[5] the Strikers scored just 12 runs in the first four overs, which included a maiden bowled by Kapp to van Niekerk who played-and-missed multiple times. The Strikers finished the powerplay at 2/16—their worst start to an innings for the tournament. Tahlia McGrath andLaura Wolvaardt combined for 61 off the next 45 balls, but the partnership ended in the 14th over when McGrath was caught at point off the bowling ofTaneale Peschel.
In the 17th overBridget Patterson, after hitting a six and a four, was dismissed by Kapp on the fourth ball, thoughMadeline Penna scored another boundary on the sixth ball to take 17 runs from the over. Now needing 36 off the last 18 deliveries, the Strikers "remained a late chance".[88] However, Alana King and Heather Graham only conceded seven runs each in their subsequent overs, greatly reducing the chances of a Strikers victory. With her team requiring 22 from the final over, Penna could only muster one boundary while Peschel repeatedly beat the bat at the death to seal a 12-run win for the Scorchers.[89]
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The Perth Scorchers became the fourth team to hold the WBBL trophy aloft, following the Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat. Writing forNews.com.au, Tyson Otto said the Scorchers "never really looked like losing" despite "several dramatic moments", and that they were the "clear standout team of the tournament".[90] Owen Leonard ofThe Sydney Morning Herald commended the "admirable resistance" of the Strikers' McGrath and Wolvaardt, but claimed the Scorchers' "flawless bowling power play" was "too deep to compensate for".[88]
Having overcome illness during the week leading up to the final,[91] Marizanne Kapp was named Player of the Match for her performance with bat and ball. Kapp and Mooney both claimed their third WBBL championships, a feat previously only achieved bySammy-Jo Johnson andLauren Smith.[92]
The crowd of 15,511 spectators was the fourth-highest attendance for any WBBL match (the top three attendances were for matches played as double-headers with theBBL), and also the highest for a WBBL final. The most-watched game in the league's history, the Final rated a combined average audience of 535,000 across TV and streaming platforms, eclipsing the 506,000 audience for theWBBL|04 decider.[93]
| Team | Score | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Renegades | 4/207 (20 overs) | Brisbane Heat | Karen Rolton Oval | 6 November 2021 |
| Perth Scorchers | 2/194 (20 overs) | Melbourne Renegades | WACA Ground | 3 November 2021 |
| Brisbane Heat | 192 (20 overs) | Melbourne Renegades | Karen Rolton Oval | 6 November 2021 |
| Perth Scorchers | 2/186 (20 overs) | Sydney Thunder | University of Tasmania Stadium | 24 October 2021 |
| Perth Scorchers | 2/184 (20 overs) | Sydney Thunder | Karen Rolton Oval | 11 November 2021 |
The Golden Bat award was introduced to the league in WBBL|07.[94] Having already been added as a feature of theBBL in 2019–20, the award recognises the leading run-scorer of the tournament, with the top-ranked player at any given time wearing a distinctive gold-coloured cap rather than their official franchise headwear.[95]
| Player | Team | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Beth Mooney | Perth Scorchers | 547 |
| Katie Mack | Adelaide Strikers | 513 |
| Sophie Devine | Perth Scorchers | 442 |
| Elyse Villani | Melbourne Stars | 439 |
| Georgia Redmayne | Brisbane Heat | 437 |
The Golden Arm award was introduced to the league in WBBL|07.[94] Having already been added as a feature of the BBL in 2019–20, the award recognises the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, with the top-ranked player at any given time wearing a distinctive gold-coloured cap rather than their official franchise headwear.[95]
| Player | Team | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda-Jade Wellington | Adelaide Strikers | 23 |
| Jess Jonassen | Brisbane Heat | 21 |
| Darcie Brown | Adelaide Strikers | 20 |
| Heather Graham | Perth Scorchers | 18 |
| Lilly Mills | Perth Scorchers | 16 |
Player of the Tournament votes are awarded on a 3-2-1 basis by the two standing umpires at the conclusion of every match, meaning a player can receive a maximum of six votes per game.
| Pos. | Player | Team | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Harmanpreet Kaur | Melbourne Renegades | 31 |
| =2nd | Sophie Devine | Perth Scorchers | 28 |
| =2nd | Beth Mooney | Perth Scorchers | 28 |
| 4th | Grace Harris | Brisbane Heat | 25 |
| =5th | Georgia Redmayne | Brisbane Heat | 24 |
| =5th | Mignon du Preez | Hobart Hurricanes | 24 |
Source:[6]
The selection panel for the Team of the Tournament was made up of former playersLisa Sthalekar (Seven Network) andMel Jones (Fox Cricket),cricket.com.au journalist Laura Jolly and national selectorShawn Flegler. The team is intended to mimic regular WBBL conditions such as a maximum of three overseas players, a realistic mix of batters and bowlers, as well as acaptain,wicket-keeper and coach.
Source:[96]
Players under 21 years of age at the start of the season were eligible for the Young Gun Award. The winner was chosen by national selectorShawn Flegler.
Sydney Thunder batterPhoebe Litchfield was named the Young Gun for WBBL|07, having scored 263 runs during the season at anaverage of 21.91 and astrike rate of 109.12.[6]
Each team designated an award to adjudge and recognise their most outstanding contributor for the season.
... a wet outfield delayed the start of play... the Invermay Park match got underway with 11 overs a side.
... Brown became the sixth player, and the first from the Strikers, to take a WBBL hat-trick.
