Knight smashes six to win as Sydney Thunder seal win in WBBL final Down Under

HEATHER Knight thudded an unbeaten 26 off just 19 balls as Sydney Thunder raced to a seven-wicket win Down Under over Melbourne Stars in the final of Women’s Big Bash League.

The Stars were held to 86 for nine after 20 overs in the final at the North Sydney Oval, which Thunder knocked off with more than six overs to spare.

England captain Knight played a part with the ball too, taking one wicket for a mere nine runs when she bowled in the first innings.

Knight had the last word in the final, smashing Stars’ bowler Alana King for a huge six over long-off to win the match. 

Knight’s batting played a key role in getting Stars to the final then winning it. She racked-up 447 runs in the series and won player of the match award against former club Hobart Hurricanes in the opening round. 

Knight’s cricket journey to the international stage started out in the youth section at Plymstock.

It was another triumph for the Devon duo of Knight and coach Trevor Griffin, who have been together on the cricket pitch in one form or another for the past five years.

Griffin and Knight led Western Storm to title victories in 2017 and 2019, as well as finals appearances in 2016 and 2018, making the side the most successful in Kia Super League history.|

Griffin’s coaching journey started in Devon in 2010 when he quit his day job in a building society to become a cricket coach. Since then has worked his way up from club and county age-group sides to professional sides in the men’s and women’s games.

Griffin has spent UK winters in New Zealand (2018), coaching in Canterbury, then switched to Sydney Thunder in 2019.

During the curtailed 2020 domestic season in this country Griffin coached South East Sunrisers in the Heyhoe-Flint Trophy.

The London side, skippered by Plympton’s Amara Carr, were beaten in the final at Chelmsford by South East Stars.