Knott Century Ends Heat 706-Day Drought as Brisbane Beat Strikers by 14 Runs

Charli Knott played the innings of her young career as Brisbane Heat ended a 706-day winless run in the Women’s Big Bash League, beating Adelaide Strikers by 14 runs at Drummoyne Oval on Thursday.

Knott smashed 104 off 61 balls, striking 12 fours and four sixes, to lift Heat to 184 for 4 — a total the Strikers could not chase down despite Laura Wolvaardt’s 75 and Madeline Penna’s 68.

The Strikers finished on 170 for 5, and Knott’s hundred — the best knock of her short career so far — also took her to the top of the season’s run-scoring charts with 177 runs.

A career-best at the right time

Knott had averaged under 20 across her 70 WBBL games before this match, but she found her range from the start and dominated the Strikers attack before being run out in the 18th over after a mix-up with partner Yastika Bhatia.

Wolvaardt’s effort in vain

Wolvaardt and Penna kept the chase alive with a strong stand, yet Heat’s bowlers held their nerve at the death to seal a first win in nearly two years for the Brisbane side.

Source: ESPNcricinfo