2019–20 Sydney Thunder WBBL season

The 2019–20 Sydney Thunder Women's season was the fifth in the team's history. Coached by Trevor Griffin and captained by Rachael Haynes, they placed sixth in WBBL|05 and failed to qualify for finals. Ending with the retirement of veterans Alex Blackwell and Rene Farrell,[1][2] the season marked a changing of the guard for the Thunder through the unearthing of acclaimed young talent such as Hannah Darlington and Phoebe Litchfield.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Sydney Thunder

2019–20 season
Sydney Thunder 2019–20 cap logo
Coach	Trevor Griffin
Captain(s)	Rachael Haynes
Home ground	Drummoyne Oval
League	WBBL
Record	5–8 (6th)
Finals	DNQ
Leading Run Scorer	Alex Blackwell – 317
Leading Wicket Taker	Hannah Darlington – 16
Player of the Season	Hannah Darlington
← 2018–19 2020–21 →

Squad

Each 2019–20 squad featured 15 active players, with an allowance of up to five marquee signings including a maximum of three from overseas. Australian marquees are players who held a national women's team contract at the time of signing for their WBBL|05 team.[9]

Notable details for the Thunder squad included:

• Trevor Griffin was appointed to the role of head coach, replacing Joanne Broadbent[10]
• Rachael Haynes assumed the captaincy, taking over from Alex Blackwell[11]
• Nicola Carey, Maisy Gibson and Belinda Vakarewa all departed the team in favour of the Hobart Hurricanes[12][13][14]
• After four seasons as an overseas marquee, Jamaican Stafanie Taylor did not have her contract renewed and she subsequently signed with the Adelaide Strikers[15]
• India's Harmanpreet Kaur did not return for WBBL|05 due to a conflicting national team schedule[16]
• Nida Dar filled the team's second overseas marquee position, making her the first Pakistani woman to sign a deal with an international cricket league[17]
• South African Shabnim Ismail, returning to the competition for the first time since a short inaugural season stint with the Melbourne Renegades, filled the team's final marquee position[18]
• On 1 November, Penrith batter Samantha Arnold was added to the squad as a local replacement player for an injured Kate Peterson (concussion)[19]
• On 26 November, Olivia Porter was added to the squad as a local replacement player for Nida Dar who missed the end of the season due to national team commitments[20]

The table below lists the Thunder players and their key stats (including runs scored, batting strike rate, wickets taken, economy rate, catches and stumpings) for the season.[21][22][23][24]

No.	Name	Nat.	Birth date	Batting Style	Bowling Style	G	R	SR	W	E	C	S	Notes
Batters
	Samantha Arnold			Right-handed	Right-arm medium	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	Local replacement player
2	Alex Blackwell		31 August 1983	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	13	317	108.56	–	–	2	–
15	Rachael Haynes		26 December 1986	Left-handed	Left-arm medium	12	166	85.56	–	–	2	–	Captain, Australian marquee
36	Phoebe Litchfield		18 April 2003	Left-handed	–	11	187	96.89	–	–	3	–
10	Naomi Stalenberg		18 April 1994	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	10	200	111.11	–	–	4	–
All-rounders
23	Saskia Horley		23 February 2000	Right-handed	Left-arm orthodox	4	27	108.00	0	10.00	0	–
33	Kate Peterson			Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
73	Olivia Porter			Right-handed	Right-arm medium	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	Local replacement player
8	Rachel Trenaman		18 April 2001	Right-handed	Right-arm leg spin	2	21	190.90	0	13.33	0	–
Wicket-keepers
3	Rachel Priest		13 July 1985	Right-handed	–	13	296	124.36	–	–	5	8	Overseas marquee
21	Tahlia Wilson		21 October 1999	Right-handed	–	5	94	87.03	–	–	1	–
Bowlers
34	Samantha Bates		7 August 1992	Right-handed	Left-arm orthodox	13	5	71.42	15	7.05	4	–
4	Nida Dar		2 January 1987	Right-handed	Right-arm off spin	11	99	89.18	13	6.87	2	–	Overseas marquee
25	Hannah Darlington		25 January 2002	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	13	81	105.19	16	6.82	3	–
88	Rene Farrell		13 January 1987	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	12	77	126.22	11	7.27	2	–
54	Lisa Griffith		28 August 1992	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	11	36	102.85	2	9.26	2	–
89	Shabnim Ismail		5 October 1988	Left-handed	Right-arm fast	13	4	44.44	10	5.88	5	–	Overseas marquee

Ladder

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR
1	Brisbane Heat (C)	14	10	4	0	20	0.723
2	Adelaide Strikers (RU)	14	10	4	0	20	0.601
3	Perth Scorchers	14	9	5	0	18	0.026
4	Melbourne Renegades	14	8	6	0	16	0.117
5	Sydney Sixers	14	7	7	0	14	−0.076
6	Sydney Thunder	14	5	8	1	11	−0.487
7	Hobart Hurricanes	14	4	9	1	9	−0.197
8	Melbourne Stars	14	2	12	0	4	−0.734

Source: [25]

•   The four top ranked teams qualified for the semi-finals

Fixtures

All times are local time

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Match 1 18 October 2019 19:40 (D/N) Scorecard

Sydney Sixers 6/192 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 9/143 (20 overs)
Ellyse Perry 81 (48) Nida Dar 2/44 (4 overs)		Alex Blackwell 56 (38) Sarah Aley 3/28 (4 overs)

Sydney Sixers won by 49 runs North Sydney Oval, Sydney Attendance: 1,891[26] Umpires: Simon Lightbody and Marc Nickl Player of the match: Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers)

• Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to bat
• Broadcast by Seven Network and Fox Cricket

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Match 6 20 October 2019 14:10 Scorecard

Brisbane Heat 9/150 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 3/153 (18.5 overs)
Jess Jonassen 42 (34) Samantha Bates 3/33 (4 overs)		Phoebe Litchfield 52* (48) Grace Harris 1/19 (3 overs)

Sydney Thunder won by 7 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) North Sydney Oval, Sydney Umpires: Troy Penman and Andrew Hamilton Player of the match: Phoebe Litchfield (Sydney Thunder)

• Brisbane Heat won the toss and elected to bat
• Broadcast by Seven Network and Fox Cricket
• Phoebe Litchfield became the youngest player to score a half-century in the WBBL[27]

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Match 12 26 October 2019 19:00 (D/N) Scorecard

Sydney Thunder 8/132 (20 overs)	v	Melbourne Renegades 8/129 (20 overs)
Rachael Haynes 36 (33) Maitlan Brown 3/22 (4 overs)		Jess Duffin 69 (56) Shabnim Ismail 3/14 (4 overs)

Sydney Thunder won by 3 runs Blacktown International Sportspark, Sydney Attendance: 925[28] Umpires: Roberto Howard and Andrew Hamilton Player of the match: Shabnim Ismail (Sydney Thunder)

• Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Cricket Network

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Match 15 27 October 2019 14:00 Scorecard

Melbourne Stars 5/141 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 6/142 (19.4 overs)
Elyse Villani 52 (47) Rene Farrell 1/18 (4 overs)		Alex Blackwell 45* (36) Madeline Penna 4/20 (4 overs)

Sydney Thunder won by 4 wickets (with 2 balls remaining) Bankstown Oval, Sydney Attendance: 606[29] Umpires: David Taylor and Claire Polosak Player of the match: Alex Blackwell (Sydney Thunder)

• Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Cricket Network

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Match 17 2 November 2019 14:00 Scorecard

Hobart Hurricanes	v	Sydney Thunder

Match abandoned without a ball bowled West Park Oval, Burnie Umpires: Darren Close and G Beechey

• No toss was possible due to rain
• Broadcast by Cricket Network

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Match 23 3 November 2019 11:00 Scorecard

Hobart Hurricanes 6/148 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 4/149 (18.1 overs)
Heather Knight 77 (49) Nida Dar 2/16 (4 overs)		Rachel Priest 50 (34) Maisy Gibson 2/28 (4 overs)

Sydney Thunder won by 6 wickets (with 11 balls remaining) West Park Oval, Burnie Umpires: Darren Close and Simon Burns Player of the match: Rachel Priest (Sydney Thunder)

• Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Cricket Network

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Match 27 10 November 2019 10:00 Scorecard

Perth Scorchers 5/151 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 6/144 (20 overs)
Natalie Sciver 37 (22) Hannah Darlington 2/24 (4 overs)		Tahlia Wilson 47* (39) Heather Graham 3/22 (4 overs)

Perth Scorchers won by 7 runs Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Harry Singh and Mary Waldron Player of the match: Heather Graham (Perth Scorchers)

• Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Cricket Network

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Match 30 12 November 2019 17:30 (D/N) Scorecard

Perth Scorchers 6/116 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 105 (19.4 overs)
Nat Sciver 27 (26) Rene Farrell 2/24 (4 overs)		Nida Dar 43 (39) Kim Garth 3/21 (4 overs)

Perth Scorchers won by 11 runs WACA Ground, Perth Umpires: Dean Trigg and James Hewitt Player of the match: Nat Sciver (Perth Scorchers)

• Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Cricket Network

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Match 33 15 November 2019 19:10 (D/N) Scorecard

Sydney Sixers 3/152 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 8/112 (20 overs)
Ellyse Perry 81 (70) Samantha Bates 1/20 (4 overs)		Rene Farrell 23 (16) Sarah Aley 2/16 (4 overs)

Sydney Sixers won by 40 runs Drummoyne Oval, Sydney Attendance: 1,517[30] Umpires: Ben Treloar and Marc Nickl Player of the match: Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers)

• Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Seven Network and Fox Cricket

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Match 34 16 November 2019 19:10 (D/N) Scorecard

Brisbane Heat 8/128 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 96 (19.1 overs)
Laura Harris 30 (22) Nida Dar 2/15 (4 overs)		Tahlia Wilson 19 (27) Jess Jonassen 4/13 (4 overs)

Brisbane Heat won by 32 runs Drummoyne Oval, Sydney Attendance: 921[31] Umpires: Troy Penman and Marc Nickl Player of the match: Amelia Kerr (Brisbane Heat)

• Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Seven Network and Fox Cricket

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Match 40 20 November 2019 14:30 Scorecard

Sydney Thunder 4/112 (20 overs)	v	Adelaide Strikers 4/113 (19.1 overs)
Rachael Haynes 33 (27) Amanda-Jade Wellington 1/10 (2 overs)		Sophie Devine 62* (58) Nida Dar 2/21 (4 overs)

Adelaide Strikers won by 6 wickets (with 5 balls remaining) North Dalton Park, Wollongong Attendance: 892[32] Umpires: Andrew Hamilton and Bede Sajowitz Player of the match: Sophie Devine (Adelaide Strikers)

• Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to bat
• Broadcast by Cricket Network

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Match 46 24 November 2019 10:00 Scorecard

Adelaide Strikers 6/161 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 6/161 (20 overs)
Sophie Devine 88 (56) Hannah Darlington 3/29 (4 overs)		Rachel Priest 48 (20) Amanda-Jade Wellington 3/17 (4 overs)

Adelaide Strikers won in a super over Blundstone Arena, Hobart Umpires: Muhammad Qureshi and Jeremiah Matibiri Player of the match: Sophie Devine (Adelaide Strikers)

• Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Cricket Network
• Adelaide Strikers qualified for finals

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Match 49 27 November 2019 14:30 Scorecard

Sydney Thunder 6/162 (20 overs)	v	Melbourne Stars 5/144 (20 overs)
Alex Blackwell 65 (47) Annabel Sutherland 2/31 (4 overs)		Mignon du Preez 55 (50) Rene Farrell 2/28 (4 overs)

Sydney Thunder won by 18 runs Manuka Oval, Canberra Umpires: Andrew Scotford and Andrew Crozier Player of the match: Alex Blackwell (Sydney Thunder)

• Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Cricket Network

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Match 53 1 December 2019 10:40 Scorecard

Melbourne Renegades 6/151 (20 overs)	v	Sydney Thunder 7/122 (20 overs)
Jess Duffin 53 (44) Samantha Bates 3/21 (4 overs)		Naomi Stalenberg 28 (30) Molly Strano 3/26 (4 overs)

Melbourne Renegades won by 29 runs CitiPower Centre, Melbourne Umpires: Claire Polosak and Mattis van Eck Player of the match: Molly Strano (Melbourne Renegades)

• Sydney Thunder won the toss and elected to field
• Broadcast by Seven Network and Fox Cricket
• Melbourne Renegades qualified for finals, Sydney Sixers eliminated from finals contention
• Former Australian players Alex Blackwell and Rene Farrell made their last WBBL appearances[1][2]

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Statistics and awards

• Most runs: Alex Blackwell – 317 (17th in the league)[33]
• Highest score in an innings: Alex Blackwell – 65 (47) vs Melbourne Stars, 27 November[34]
• Most wickets: Hannah Darlington – 16 (equal 8th in the league)[35]
• Best bowling figures in an innings: Shabnim Ismail – 3/14 (4 overs) vs Melbourne Renegades, 26 October[36]
• Most catches (fielder): Shabnim Ismail – 5 (equal 14th in the league)[37]
• Player of the Match awards:
  • Alex Blackwell – 2
  • Shabnim Ismail, Phoebe Litchfield, Rachel Priest – 1 each
• Alex Blackwell Medal[lower-alpha 1]: Hannah Darlington[3]
• WBBL|05 Young Gun Award: Hannah Darlington (winner), Phoebe Litchfield and Tahlia Wilson (nominated)[4]

References

1. "Blackwell calls stumps on a magnificent career". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
2. "Rene Farrell bows out a champion". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
3. "Darlington wins Alex Blackwell Medal". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
4. "Darlington named WBBL|05 Young Gun". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
5. "A star is born as teenager Litchfield schools the Heat". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
6. Huntsdale, Duncan (2019-10-25). "A 16-year-old has taken the WBBL by storm and she's only getting started". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
7. "Teen sensation Phoebe Litchfield revels in memorable WBBL debut". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
8. Weir, Ben (2019-10-25). "'Pretty surreal': Record breaking teen adjusts to new life as WBBL star". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
9. "Complete squad lists for WBBL|05". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
10. "Thunder sign champion English coach". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
11. "Thunder Confirm Captain As Star Duo Extend Contracts". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
12. "Carey jumps ship to 'Canes, Tigers". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
13. "Australia A quick signs". Hobart Hurricanes. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
14. "We've got Maisy!". Hobart Hurricanes. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
15. "Taylor, Winfield to share third international spot". Adelaide Strikers. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
16. IANS. "Harmanpreet, Mandhana, Rodrigues set to miss WBBL". Sportstar. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
17. "Pakistan all-rounder joins Thunder". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
18. "South African bowler joins Thunder". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
19. "Thunder name squad to face Hurricanes". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
20. "Thunder give 18-year-old Olivia Porter a shot... and a shock". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
21. "WBBL|05 Fan's guide: Sydney Thunder". bigbash.com.au. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
22. "New squad numbers revealed". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
23. "Players | Sydney Thunder - BBL". www.sydneythunder.com.au. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
24. "Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 - Sydney Thunder Women Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
25. "Rebel WBBL|05 | cricket.com.au". www.cricket.com.au. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
26. "Ellyse Perry powers Sydney Sixers to opening WBBL victory". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
27. "Recent Match Report - Sydney Thunder Women vs Brisbane Heat Women, Women's Big Bash League, Innings | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
28. "Great to have the support of 925 members of the #ThunderNation here at Blacktown tonight". twitter.com/ThunderWBBL. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
29. "Amazing to have the support of 606 members of our #ThunderNation at Bankstown Oval today!". twitter.com/ThunderWBBL. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
30. "Amazing to have the support of 1,517 of our #ThunderNation here at Drummoyne Oval tonight". twitter.com/ThunderWBBL. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
31. "Big thank you to all 921 members of the #ThunderNation who came out to Drummoyne Oval tonight". twitter.com/ThunderWBBL. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
32. "Amazing to have the support of 892 members of our #ThunderNation here in Wollongong". twitter.com/ThunderWBBL. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
33. "Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
34. "Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
35. "Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
36. "Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
37. "Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2020-04-19.

Notes

1. Thunder Player of the Tournament