All You Need to Know for the WBBL|05 Finals

What, it's Big Bash Finals time already?!

We feel ya. It’s been a wild, exciting ride and now with all 56(!) regular season matches completed, it’s finals time!

This year, the WBBL finals have taken on a new format in keeping with the inaugural standalone season.

Both semi-finals and the final will be played at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field across an EPIC Finals Weekend, with the Heat earning hosting rights after just pipping Adelaide Strikers for top spot on the table.

---

First semi-final: Strikers v Scorchers, Saturday 10.10am (11.10am AEDT)

Second semi-final: Heat v Renegades, Saturday 1.50pm (2.50pm AEDT)

Final: SF1 v SF2, Sunday 1.40pm (2.40pm AEDT) 

---

The semi-final action all happens on Saturday, with just enough time for a deep breath before the winners meet in Sunday’s final.

Brisbane are the defending champions, but they’ll face stiff competition from the in-form Adelaide Strikers outfit, Meg Lanning’s Perth Scorchers and the fighting Melbourne Renegades.

If this weekend is anything like last year’s remarkable finals series, which saw two final-ball thrillers in the semis before the Heat shocked the Sixers in the decider, you won’t want to miss this!

Wow. I need to be there!

Too easy. The atmosphere at Allan Border Field promises to be electric and you can secure a ticket for just $10 for adults, $5 for concession while children are free with a valid adult/concession ticket.

And if you want to see every ball, a weekend pass is available for $15 (adults) or $7.50 (concession).

If you come along, make sure you pack your zinc – more on that below!

Buy your tickets HERE.

How can I watch it?

Never fear, if you can’t be there in person you can still watch every moment live and free.

Both semi-finals and the final will be broadcast on free-to-air television via 7Mate, while Fox Cricket will simulcast the matches, which can also be streamed via Kayo on the Cricket Australia Live app.

For those who like their cricket served up on the radio, ABC Grandstand will cater to all your listening needs.

And if that's not enough, cricket.com.au and the CA Live app will have live scores and highlights of EVERY major moment, as well as replays of every wicket and every boundary in the match centre, plus web, video and social coverage from our crew on the ground.

Did I hear something about a good cause?

The WBBL has partnered with Australian Red Cross to raise funds and awareness during the Finals Weekend for Australians impacted by this year’s disasters, including the recent bushfires.

Over the Finals Weekend, volunteers will be fundraising at the ground and all emergency services personnel will be welcome to come to the ground free of charge.

Strikers' allrounder Sophie Devine will also use her 'zinc challenge' to raise money for the Red Cross. This season, Devine has donned blue zinc and challenged members of the opposing team to do the same, donating $100 to the charity of her rivals' choice on each occasion.

Make sure you bring your zinc and wear it with pride!

If you can’t make it along to the match, donate to Australian Red Cross’s Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund HERE. 

Image Id: 7896FEF951254D19AAAEECA0850D8677 Image Caption: Sophie Devine shows off her zinc // Getty

Form guide

Brisbane Heat: WLWWW

Melbourne Renegades: WWWLL

Adelaide Strikers: LWWWW

Perth Scorchers: WLWWW

(Most recent first)

Head-to-head

Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades

Overall: Renegades 6 – Heat 4

The Heat are the reigning champions and have the home ground advantage, but it’s worth noting the Renegades have won five of their past seven games against the Brisbane side, including their stunning six-wicket win at AB Field late last month.

They split the points this home-and-away season, with Brisbane coming out on top at Junction Oval one week before the Renegades had their revenge.

Kirby Short’s team have won eight of their past nine games, but with their only defeat coming to the Renegades, could an upset be on the cards?

Meanwhile, the Renegades have gained momentum at the business end of the season, winning six of their last eight games.

Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers

Overall: Strikers 6 – Scorchers 4

The Scorchers have won two of their past three games against the Strikers, including their two-run win at Karen Rolton Oval on November 9, with honours split in their two home-and-away meetings in WBBL|05.

The Strikers have also won four of their five previous games against the Scorchers on neutral territory, including their seven-wicket win in their showdown at AB Field earlier this season.

Adelaide have also been incredibly consistent this season and had won six games in a row before dropping their final regular-season game to the Sixers.

Players to watch

Beth Mooney + Amelia Kerr Brisbane Heat

The league’s second-highest run scorer, Mooney has been incredibly consistent for the Heat with eight half-centuries from 14 innings. In the tournament’s history, only Ellyse Perry (443) has scored more runs against the Renegades than Mooney (388).

Leg-spinner Kerr has been brilliantly economical and on multiple occasions has stopped teams on a roll during the middle overs, drying up the runs and conjuring wickets.

Jess Duffin + Lea Tahuhu Melbourne Renegades

Batting in the middle order, Duffin has been the key for the Renegades – picking up the pieces on multiple occasions when the top order has failed. She thrives against spin – see Amelia Kerr – making this a contest worth watching closely.

Speedster Tahuhu has not picked up as many wickets as she might have liked this season, with nine scalps, but she’s been bowling at an economy rate of 5.9. Given Heat opener Mooney’s form, her performance with the ball in the power play could be make-or-break.

Sophie Devine + Megan Schutt Adelaide Strikers

Little needs to be said about Devine, who was crowned player of the tournament on Tuesday. She leads the league runs table, she’s picked up 17 wickets – so can the Scorchers nullify her? It is worth noting that she was dismissed cheaply the first time the teams met this season, yet Adelaide still won at a canter.

Schutt has the best economy rate in the league, while Scorchers opener Lanning can be susceptible to nicking off early. The showdown between the Australian teammates in the powerplay will be critical.

Meg Lanning + Heather Graham Perth Scorchers

Given Nat Sciver and Amy Jones have left on England duties, a lot is resting on Lanning’s shoulders. She scored a century last weekend and could well need to produce another if her undermanned team is going to knock off the in-form Strikers.

Heather Graham was last summer’s domestic player of the year but has not hit the same heights with bat or ball this season. The Scorchers will need her to step up in the big stage, given the star-power the Strikers bring with the likes of Devine, Schutt, Suzie Bates and Amanda-Jade Wellington.

The squads

The final squads do not need to be confirmed by the clubs until 2pm on Friday, but here’s the current contracted playing lists of the four finalists, minus players who are unavailable due to international commitments.

Brisbane Heat: Kirby Short(c), Haidee Birkett, Maddy Green, Laura Harris, Grace Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Jess Jonassen, Amelia Kerr, Delissa Kimmince, Charlo Knott, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney Georgia Prestwidge, Courtney Sippel

Adelaide Strikers: Suzie Bates (c), Darcie Brown, Sarah Coyte, Sophie Devine, Ellie Falconer, Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath, Tegan McPharlin Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Alex Price, Tabatha Saville, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Perth Scorchers: Meg Lanning (c), Jemma Barsby, Sam Betts, Nicole Bolton, Mathilda Carmichael, Amy Edgar, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Kath Hempenstall, Emma King, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Georgia Redmayne,

Melbourne Renegades: Jess Duffin (c), Chamari Athapaththu, Maitlan Brown, Makinley Blows, Josie Dooley, Erica Kershaw, Anna Lanning, Carly Leeson, Sophie Molineux, Courntey Neale, Molly Strano, Lea Tahuhu, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb