The Women’s Big Bash League, around since 2015, has emerged as the premier destination for globetrotting national and international names in the women’s game. At a time where the men’s game is mightier than ever, it’s pathbreaking tournaments like the WBBL that have furthered the cause of (and added much-needed regard for) women’s cricket.
But in a time span of half a decade, which moments and feats have shaped the identity of one of the most popular leagues in the Cricket world. What moments have added to the fun of witnessing Cricket in its most enticing format? Let’s find out.
WBBL 01 (2015-16)
The inaugural edition of WBBL which saw 8 teams, same as their male counterparts, battling out for the Trophy. While Hobert Hurricanes (16 points) Perth Scorchers (14 points), Sydney Thunders (18 points), and Sydney Sixers (16 points) qualified for the Semifinal, Thunders defeated Scorchers by 8 wickets.
Sixers turned out to be victorious in the 2nd semifinal. In the final which turned out to be the Sydney Derby, Sixers put on 115 runs, batting first. Based on Rachael Haynes’ 37, Thunders won the first WBBL by 3 wickets with 3 balls to spare.
Highest Run- Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars) 540 runs at 56
Highest Wicket taker- Rene Farrell (Sydney Thunders) 26 wickets at 12.96
Highest Total- 190/3 Heats vs Thunders
WBBL 02 (2016-17)
Last Year’s Runners-up, Sydney Sixers turned out to be the Champion this year while Defending champions Thunders failed to even qualify for the Semi. Heats qualified for the first time with 16 points along with Perth Scorchers.
While Sixers topped the group with 18 points, Hobart Hurricanes completed the quota with 15 points. After the semi-final clashes, two victorious team Sixers and Scorchers met in the final. Alyssa Healy’s 27-ball 40 helped Sixers to reach a total of 124.
Despite Katherine Brunt‘s unbeaten 35, Perth Scorchers fell 7 runs short of the target.
Highest Runs- Meg Lanning (Stars) 502 runs at 45.63
Highest Wicket taker- Sarah Aley (Sixers) 28 wickets at 11.75
Highest Total- 171/3 Hurricanes vs Thunders
*Harmanpreet became the first Indian to play any overseas league.*
WBBL 03 (2017-18)
Sydney Sixers defended the title and became the first team to win the WBBL consecutive time. In the Final, Sarah Coyte’s 4/21 restricted Perth below hundred, and once again Alyssa Healy’s 41 helped Sixers to win the title by 9 wickets.
Earlier, with 16 points from 14 matches, Adelaide Strikers had their first semifinal appearances and Thunders once again find themselves in the top for with 10 victories.
Sixers too topped the league once again along with Perth Scorchers.
Highest Run- Ellyse Perry (Sixers) 542 runs at 46
Highest Wicket taker- Katherine Brunt (Scorchers) 23 wickets at 11.34
Highest Total- 242/4 – Sixers vs Melbourne Stars
WBBL 04 (2018-19)
Brisbane Heat broke the monopoly of the Sixers to win their first-ever WBBL title. 4 teams- Sixers, Thunders, Heats, and Renegades qualified for the semi with 20, 19, 18, and 15 points respectively.
In the first semi-final, Heat beat Thunders by 4 runs and entered their first final. Meanwhile, in the other nail-biting finish, Renegades were defeated by Sixers in the super over. In the final Beth Mooney’ 65 from 45 balls shattered the dream of Sixers’ to win the final by 3 wickets.
Highest Run- Ellyse Perry (Sixers) 777 runs at 86.33
Highest Wicket taker- Heather Graham (Scorchers) 22 wickets at 16.95
Highest Total- 206/1 Sixers vs Strikers
WBBL 05 (2019-20)
Brisbane Heat, with their consecutive victory, became the 2nd team in WBBL history to win two titles. This year, for the very first-time tournament organized as a standalone tournament and it continued to pull the crowd.
Based on Beth Mooney’s gutted 56 Heats defeated Strikers by 6 wickets, who was playing their first-ever WBBL title. Scorchers and Renegades played the semifinal apart from these two teams. Heats and strikers won 10 matches each while Scorchers and Renegades got 18 and 16 points respectively.
Highest Run- Sophie Devine (Strikers) 769 runs at 76.9
Highest Wicket taker- Molly Strano (Renegades) 24 wickets at 16.91
Highest Total- 199/0 Sixers vs Melbourne Stars
