No century, but 115 runs in a T20 for Sophie Devine

Devine, who was named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year for 2018, has been in stellar form in the WBBL, where she's also been leading a 'headband' charity effort. She is second on the runs chart so far, with 449 runs from 10 matches. Earlier in the tournament against Melbourne Stars, she followed up her 95 runs with a five-wicket haul, for a WBBL first.

A century in the season remained out of her reach, though. In the game on Tuesday, 8 January, she smashed 22 in the final over off Heather Knight, but remained heart-breakingly short on 99* off 53 balls.

The New Zealander had needed five runs in the last two balls to get to the mark, but the deep square leg fielder denied her. The knock included 10 fours and four sixes and helped Strikers post 189/5, their highest total ever.

Devine, who had a quiet start, got good help from Tahlia McGrath, who struck 63 off 42 balls. But, the Hurricanes then proved they were up to the challenge in the chase.

India's Smriti Mandhana was in fine touch, bringing up a fifty in just 23 balls – bettering her mark of 24 from earlier in the season and going joint second on the list of fastest WBBL fifties.

Georgia Redmayne made a handy 54* off 37, but the experienced Sarah Coyte and sharp fielding ensured the Hurricanes could only tie the scores when Katelyn Fryett hit a boundary off the last ball.

Mandhana struck a six in the Super Over as the Hurricanes made 12/1, but Devine came out swinging again. She needed just three balls, all of which she dispatched to or over the ropes, to get to 16* and seal an entertaining win.

“My nerves are a bit shot, to be honest,” Devine said after the game. “I just swung my arms and it went our way.”