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The WBBL|03 season that was: Heat

The Heat may have just missed out on finals this summer, but their best was certainly up there in an entertaining season

Position: 5th

Wins: 7 Losses: 7

Highest total: 9-170 v Scorchers, December 10

WBBL|03 season highlights: Heat

Highest individual score: Delissa Kimmince, 87no v Scorchers

Best individual bowling figures: Jemma Barbsy, 4-2 v Sydney Thunder

Highlights: After a slow start to the season, the Heat roared into form with nine-wicket win over the Strikers, with Beth Mooney belting a brilliant 86no. It was the start of a five-match winning-streak for the Heat, and got their season going in earnest.

Mooney masterclass guides Heat to big win

With their finals hopes on the line, the Heat produced an awesome effort to topple then top-team Thunder on the second-last day of the regular season, led by a brilliant 83-run partnership between Grace Harris (57) and Delissa Kimmince (42).

The Heat turned it on when they travelled to Mackay to take on Melbourne Stars in a double-header. Deandra Dottin was excellent with the ball, snaring 2-13, while it was another half-century from Mooney which set the host side up for the win.

Bowling ace: The Heat bowlers spread the load in WBBL|03, but in terms of brilliant individual performances, it’s impossible to go past the ridiculous 4-2 spell Jemma Barsby bowled. With net run rate vital to the Heat’s hopes of making an 11th-hour surge into the top four, she bowled two outstanding overs to give her team a chance. It was the best spell bowled by anyone in WBBL|03.

Brilliant Barsby claims a remarkable 4-2

Batting star: Beth Mooney had a slow start to the season, but once she got going, she more than made up for lost time, rocketing up the rankings to finish fourth in the league for runs scored with 465 at 42.27.

On the rise: Jemma Barsby may have drawn some attention for her ambidextrous bowling – she switched from right- to left-arm bowler mid-over against the Strikers – but she finished the season as the Heat’s leading wicket-taker with 13.

What they need for WBBL|04: The Heat were lacking an intimidating strike bowler this season, and, although their spinners did a great job, a pacey spearhead could give their attack an extra edge – someone in the ilk of Katherine Brunt or Sarah Aley.

In a nutshell: The Heat ultimately paid the price of missing out on finals (just) because of a few poor performances throughout the season, but their best was right up there, led by an impressive batting list. Mooney was undoubtedly the star, but Delissa Kimmince put in plenty of memorable performances, while captain Kirby Short had some good showings of her own. Grace Harris barely missed a beat when she returned towards the end of the season.

WBBL|03 squad: Kirby Short (c), Jemma Barsby, Haidee Birkett, Tess Cooper, Deandra Dottin (WI), Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Courtney Hill, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Prestwidge, Kara Sutherland, Laura Wolvaardt (temporary overseas replacement player for Grace Harris), Rumana Ahmed (rookie), Josephine Dooley (rookie).