White Ferns skipper Sophie Devine may have won the battle, but longtime teammate Suzie Bates had the last laugh, as their respective teams faced off for a spot in the Women's Big Bash playoffs against the Tasman.
Devine took individual bragging rights, scoring 28 runs off 22 balls and taking four wickets — including that of Bates herself — with the ball, but could not guide Perth Scorchers into the post-season, with Bates and Hobart Hurricanes eventually taking out the sudden-death encounter at Perth.
The home side seemed to have the T20 match under control, as Devine and opener Beth Mooney put on 43 runs for the third wicket, but once they departed, the wheels fell completely off the Scorchers innings, as they lost seven wickets for 20 runs in the final five overs.
Devine cleared the boundary twice in her stay, taking 20 runs off a Heather Graham over, but was out next over, caught trying to cut through point. Mooney followed 12 balls later, caught by Bates off Amy Smith's bowling, for 50 off 40 balls.
Chasing 139 runs for victory, Hobart were off to a rollicking start, averaging 10 runs an over through the opening overs, with opener Lizelle Lee smashing 44 runs off 22 balls, but hit the wall, when they lost four wickets for seven runs, including Devine's leg-before-wicket dismissal of Bates at 71/5.
Kathryn Bryce and Tabatha Saville stopped the rot, with 24 runs for the sixth wicket, Molly Strano lasted only two balls, but Lauren Smith joined Bryce to reach the target with two overs to spare.
Bryce (34no) was named Player of the Match. The result was not quite enough to clinch a playoff spot for fourth-placed Hobart, but Amelia Kerr's Sydney Sixers need a convincing win over Brisbane Heat to edge them out on net run rate.
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