WHEN Lisa Griffith reflected on her maiden Women’s Big Bash League season, she admitted it was tough to finish without a wicket for Sydney Thunder.
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But the Bathurst all-rounder will not finish this summer with the same sort of feeling.
It took Griffith just four deliveries to strike in Sydney Thunder’s 2018-19 season opener on Sunday afternoon at Junction Oval against the Melbourne Renegades.
That wicket was part of a dominant all-round performance from Thunder in the Twenty20 fixture, with the Renegades held to 8-98.
It meant that Griffith, who was listed at number eight in the batting order, was not required to wield the willow. Thunder got the job done four wickets down in the 17th over.
Griffith went into the match on the back of good trial form for Thunder, her efforts with the ball including being on a hat-trick against Brisbane Heat.
Thunder dominated the head-to-heads against Renegades over the first three editions of the tournament – holding a five and one record – and were keen to extend that.
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The Junction Oval wicket had been the scene for 72 fours and nine sixes the previous day in a WBBL double-header, but the Thunder bowlers made sure that sort of big hitting did not continue.
By the time Griffith was introduced at the start of the seventh over, Thunder was in control at 2-26.
Four balls later it got even better as Renegades number four Jess Duffin, in attempting to clear the infield, skied the ball. Maisy Gibson took the catch and Griffith had her maiden WBBL wicket.
Former Australian representative and experienced T20 player Dirk Nannes, who was commentating on the match, was impressed by Griffith.
“Nice action … lovely balanced follow through straight down the wicket,” he said.
Griffith bowled three overs consecutively then returned in the 14th to finish. She had a good leg before wicket shout on her final ball, but Maitlan Brown survived the appeal. She ended up with figures of 1-20 off her four overs, which included 11 dots balls. Only three of her deliveries went for more than a single.
