The opening day of Australia’s Twenty20 women Big Bash League witnessed two one sided matches with Perth Scorchers bowing down to Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes suffering a loss in the hands of Adelaide Strikers.

Jess Jonassen’s Brisbane Heat after electing to bowl first bundled out Perth Scorchers who had former Heats opener Beth Mooney leading them. Economical spells by Kimmince and Kerr who shared three wickets between them, set the tone of the match, as Perth Scorchers could manager only 132 runs. Grace Harris (53) and Georgia Redmayne (37*) steered the defending champions past to record a seven-wicket win with 18 balls to spare.

Adelaide Strikers in the other match, put up a well executed all-round display by first dismissing the entire Hobart Hurricanes team for a meager 84 runs in 16.3 overs. Australia’s Megan Schutt lead that attack by dismissing two top-order batters and ending up giving only 14 runs in her three overs. Darcie Brown with her pace, took 3-13 to skittle Hobart and leave her team with a easy run chase in the absence of Stafanie Taylor. South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt finished the proceedings, smashing an unbeaten 51 from 42 balls to power her side to an eight-wicket win.

While the two games somehow managed to keep rain away, the sky remained gret the entire time. The real victim to weather would be Australia’s mainstay Ellyse Perry who had to make a comeback after about eight months of injury lay-off. Perry and the Sydney Sixers were to play Rachael Haynes’ Sydney Thunder, had the match not been abandoned.

Melbourne Stars’ showdown with the Melbourne Renegades was also called off, halted after 17 overs with the Stars making 127 for four and Australia skipper Meg Lanning unbeaten on 51.

The eight-team tournament is being played entirely in Sydney over five weeks due to Covid-19 border closures and quarantine requirements with all players, coaches and support staff staying in a hub at the city’s Olympic Park.

Another four games are due to be played on Monday, although more wet weather is forecast. The men’s Big Bash League is set to start on December 3 with games countrywide, although that could be revised.