Ignored from Women's T20 World Cup 2024 squad, Shikha Pandey dazzles on WBBL debut with ultra economical spell and 2 wickets

Experienced pacer Shikha Pandey on October 27 dazzled on her Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) debut in the opening game of the season. Shikha claimed a couple of wickets and conceded 14 runs from her quota of four overs for Brisbane Heat against Adelaide Strikers at Adealide Oval. Brisbane Heat ended up winning the game by four wickets with two overs to spare.

Shikha opened the bowling and conceded just one run. She bowled four dot balls in a row to South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt. In her second over, Wolvaardt hit a boundary first ball. On the next ball, she tried to hit her over mid-off but was caught well inside the circle by Jess Jonassen. She departed after scoring five runs from eight balls.

Shikha was brought back into the attack in the 15th over. Against a free-flowing Tahlia McGrath, she conceded just three runs in the over. In the next over, she dismissed Bridget Patterson.

Tahlia went on to score 51 runs from 41 balls and remained unbeaten. Apart from Shikha, pacer Nicola Hancock and skipper Jess Jonassen bagged one wicket each. Tahlia's half-century took Adelaide Strikers to 133/5.

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Charli leads Brisbane home

In reply, Brisbane Heat got decent start but Grace Harris (29), Georgia Redmayne (11) and Lauren Winfield-Hill (10) could not convert them into big scores. The partnership between Jonassen and Charli Knott helped Brisbane Heat dominate. Jonassen was dismissed for 20-ball 21 in the 16th over. In the next over, Megan Schutt dismissed Laura Harris and Nadine de Klerk. But Knott ensured that Brisbane Heat get over the line with 12 balls to spare. She scored 44 runs from 30 balls including five fours and a six.

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Brisbane Heat's next match will be against Melbourne Renegades on October 30.

Indian players in WBBL

Other Indian players in WBBL are Smriti Mandhana, Dayalan Hemalatha, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma. All five of them are currently part of India's squad for the home ODI series against New Zealand. They are set to join their respective sides after the series conclude on October 29.