Sydney Sixers Women made a winning start to the 2026 Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) with a thrilling last-ball victory over Brisbane Heat Women at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, on Friday, 30 October 2026. Chasing 155, the Sixers reached 157 for 6 off the final delivery to win Match 3 by four wickets, with Sarah Coyte striking the winning boundary.
The result gives the Sixers their first points of the new season, while Brisbane Heat’s wait for a WBBL victory now stretches beyond 700 days. It was a match of two near-identical scripts: both sides dominated for long stretches, then wobbled badly at the death — but the Sixers held their nerve when it mattered most.
Match Summary
Sydney Sixers captain Ashleigh Gardner won the toss and chose to bowl first, and Brisbane Heat made a flying start. Charli Knott hit the first two balls of the match for boundaries and cleared the ropes again in the following over. Grace Harris fell early, but Knott kept attacking, and captain Georgia Redmayne soon took over with a flurry of boundaries of her own.
The pair guided the Heat to 79 for 1 at the halfway mark and brought up their fifties in the same over, sharing a 97-run stand that looked set to carry the Heat to a big total. Gardner then returned to the attack to break the partnership, and that wicket changed the match. The Heat stuttered at the death, losing wickets at regular intervals, and only 37 runs came from the final five overs as they finished on 154 for 5 — a total that felt at least 20 short given where they had been.
The chase followed a similar pattern. Sophia Dunkley made a rapid start for the Sixers, dealing in boundaries as they wiped 53 runs off the target inside the first six overs without losing a wicket. Sianna Ginger gave the Heat a timely breakthrough by removing Dunkley, but the Sixers stayed comfortably placed.
Amelia Kerr struggled for fluency, but Ellyse Perry went after Lucy Hamilton in the 13th over, taking four boundaries in an 18-run over. Even after Kerr was bowled for 18 off 20 balls, Perry kept going, reaching her fifty with a four and following it with a six to leave the equation at 41 off 36 balls with eight wickets in hand.
Then came the twist. The Heat removed Gardner and Perry in successive overs to drag the game right back, and although Alice Capsey kept fighting, wickets kept falling at the other end. The equation came down to 10 off 8 balls, then 5 off 6 after a crucial boundary. A couple of dot balls and a run out set up a final-ball finish, with the Sixers needing two runs — and Sarah Coyte found the gap between two fielders for the boundary that sealed a famous win.
Final Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs |
| Brisbane Heat Women | 154/5 | 20 |
| Sydney Sixers Women | 157/6 | 20 |
| Result | Sydney Sixers Women won by 4 wickets (off the last ball) |
Key Performances
- Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers) — 58 off 38 balls, including 7 fours and 1 six, and Player of the Match. Her fifty, reached with a four and followed by a six, kept the chase on track when others faltered.
- Georgia Redmayne (Brisbane Heat) — 58 as captain, anchoring the Heat innings alongside Knott in their 97-run stand.
- Charli Knott (Brisbane Heat) — 57 off 47 balls with the bat and 2 for 25 with the ball, the standout all-round effort of the match.
- Ashleigh Gardner (Sydney Sixers) — 2 for 25, including the wicket that broke the 97-run stand and swung momentum back to the Sixers.
- Sophia Dunkley (Sydney Sixers) — a rapid 37 that gave the chase its early momentum, with the Sixers reaching 53 without loss in the powerplay.
- Sarah Coyte (Sydney Sixers) — held her nerve to hit the winning boundary off the final ball with two runs needed.
What It Means for the Early WBBL Table
The win puts the Sydney Sixers on the board immediately in the new WBBL season, and early wins matter in a short tournament where net run rate and momentum can decide the final four. A last-ball victory also gives a settled, experienced side belief that they can win from difficult positions.
For Brisbane Heat, this was a painful one to lose. They dominated the first half of their innings and had the Sixers under real pressure late in the chase, but they could not finish either innings. With Jess Jonassen ruled out for the whole season, the Heat need their senior players — Redmayne and Knott delivered here — to find support at the death, with both bat and ball.
It is only Match 3 of the season, so neither side’s campaign is defined by this result. But the Sixers will take far more from a game they nearly threw away than the Heat will from a game they nearly won.
FAQs
- Question: Who won Brisbane Heat Women vs Sydney Sixers Women, WBBL Match 3? Answer: Sydney Sixers Women won by 4 wickets, off the last ball of the match.
- Question: What was the final score? Answer: Brisbane Heat Women scored 154 for 5 in 20 overs, and Sydney Sixers Women replied with 157 for 6 in 20 overs.
- Question: Who was the Player of the Match? Answer: Ellyse Perry, for her 58 off 38 balls at the top of the Sixers order.
- Question: Who were the top scorers? Answer: Georgia Redmayne (58) and Charli Knott (57) for the Heat, and Ellyse Perry (58) and Sophia Dunkley (37) for the Sixers.
- Question: What happened on the last ball? Answer: With two runs needed, Sarah Coyte hit a boundary to give the Sixers a thrilling win.
- Question: Where was the match played? Answer: Allan Border Field, Brisbane, on Friday, 30 October 2026.
Conclusion
In the end, this was the perfect early-season WBBL contest: two fifties in the same over, a 97-run stand, a late collapse, and a finish off the very last ball. The Sixers deserved their win for Perry’s class and Coyte’s composure, but the Heat will know they let a winning position slip twice — first with the bat, then in the field.
Both teams now move on quickly in a packed WBBL schedule. The Sixers will look to build on this winning start, while the Heat must regroup fast and turn promising positions into points before the early-season table starts to take shape.
Related reading: Brisbane Heat guide, Sydney Sixers guide, and the match preview.
For the full match report, read the Cricbuzz match report.
Green Benn is a dedicated sports writer specializing in cricket, including IPL and international formats. Known for clear, engaging, and informative content, Green simplifies complex match analysis and player statistics for all readers. Passionate about sports storytelling, Green delivers reliable, SEO-friendly articles that keep fans updated and informed
