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He is contracted to the Royals in the SA20 and CPL, but he will be up against them in the IPL on Friday

Matt Roller04-May-20239:30

Are IPL team owners going to take over world cricket?

Royal Multisport Private Limited – Rajasthan Royals’ parent company – have been David Miller’s employers for around one-third of the last seven months but on Friday night, he will find himself walking out to bat them.Miller represented Barbados in the Caribbean Premier League last September, and captained Paarl in the SA20 in January, but for the months of April and May, he is playing for the team that beat Rajasthan in last season’s IPL final. It is a right Royal tangle, and one that highlights the oddity of players representing different IPL-owned franchises in different leagues.”I’ve got some understanding of what they are all about,” Miller said before training in Jaipur on Thursday evening. “I’m looking forward to it. I know a lot of the guys, and this is the joy about franchise cricket around the world: you get to build relationships with players and management along the way, and build some really good friendships.”Similar situations have arisen throughout this IPL season. Two weeks ago, at the Wankhede Stadium, Sam Curran won the Player of the Match award for captaining Punjab Kings to victory over Mumbai Indians – the franchise who recruited him for their SA20 team, MI Cape Town, and bid aggressively for him in December’s mini auction.Related

• IPL teams and international stars in informal contract discussions

• Royals vs Titans brings together IPL 2023's best in class

• 'I feel extremely backed' – Miller on his success at GT

Perhaps, in that context, it is no wonder that franchises are looking to tie players to year-round contracts. There are clear challenges as to how to fit them into the draft and auction systems around the world that are designed to ensure a level of competitive balance, but the oddities thrown up by the status quo suggest change is likely.In a parallel universe, Miller might well have found himself walking out in Royals’ pink kit tomorrow rather than Gujarat Titans’ dark blue. He spent two IPL seasons with them in 2020 and 2021 and if his record for them was anything like what it has been since he joined Titans, he would surely have been retained ahead of the 2022 mega-auction.But Miller struggled for opportunities with Royals, batting only nine times for them in two years, averaging 20.66 and striking at 109.73. “It has been quite frustrating, not really being able to play over the past couple of years,” he told this website ahead of IPL 2022.It has been a bumpy ride for Miller in the IPL. From 2013-2015, he was one of the league’s best middle-order batters, consistently scoring 350-plus runs a season for Kings XI Punjab. But after a lean 2016 season – in which his top score in 13 innings was 31 – he found himself struggling for consistent opportunities, first with Kings XI and then Royals.David Miller had captained Paarl Royals in the inaugural SA20 earlier this year•SA20

“I wouldn’t say professional sport is easy,” Miller said. “It can be very challenging and tough at times, especially in a tournament like this where there’s so many overseas [players] in one squad and if you don’t really do well in one season, you’re kind of just forgotten about.”Outside of the IPL, I’ve done really well internationally, domestically – it’s just the IPL, where that one bad season that I had… I kind of just got written off. I knew what I was capable of. It was just a matter of getting a really good run and opportunity, so I trained really hard and tried to become a better player.”At Titans, Miller has played every single game that he has been available for, missing only the 2023 season opener when he was on international duty. “I was really chuffed that last season went the way it did,” Miller said, “and I had the opportunity to play throughout the whole season.”And his record has been phenomenal. He is Titans’ third-highest run-scorer across both seasons, averaging 60.09 with a strike rate of 144.00, and has been at the crease in nine of their twelve successful run chases.Key to that has been a marked improvement against spin. From 2016-21, Miller scored at just under a run a ball (98.68) against spin in the IPL, and averaged 22.60 against it; since joining Titans, his strike rate against spin has shot up to 145.32. With only three dismissals to spinners in his last 24 IPL games, he has a remarkable average of 98.33 against spin.The secret? “Just the mindset,” Miller explained. “I’ve never really felt that I’ve been poor against spin, but it’s definitely an area that I’ve needed to work on and as the years have gone on I’ve definitely focused a lot more on it. The biggest thing for me is just the mindset rather than technical faults and stuff like that… [but] I’m probably looking to play more on the back foot than [the] front foot.”It’s [been about] finding a way of getting off strike and accessing different areas. Playing spin… I’m feeling a lot better, and not feeling that they can bog me down. I’ve got my boundary options, I’ve got my one [single] options and then it’s just about going out there and trusting that preparation that you’ve had with the mindset.”If he can extend that success against R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal on Friday night, Miller will leave Royals wondering what might have been.

Fixtures unknown even four months before, though dates for previous two World Cups were announced more than a year in advance

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jun-2023The ICC intends to publish a full schedule for the men’s 2023 ODI World Cup “as soon as we possibly can,” according to their chief executive, Geoff Allardice. The tournament hosted by India is expected to start in four months’ time, with venues and fixtures still unconfirmed.The schedule for the 2019 ODI World Cup in England and Wales was released on April 26, 2018, 13 months before the opening game, while the schedule for the 2015 tournament in Australia and New Zealand was released on July 30, 2013 – a full 18 months before the first match.The fixtures for this year’s World Cup, however, remain unknown. ESPNcricinfo reported in March that the tournament is expected to run from October 5 to November 19, but the ICC has not publicly confirmed any dates.Related

• World Cup 2023 likely to start on October 5 and end on November 19

• World Cup schedule to be unveiled during WTC final

Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, had recently said that the schedule would be unveiled during the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval, but Allardice did not commit to that timeline during an interview on the BBC’s ; and ESPNcricinfo understands the fixtures may not be made public until next week.”I think even today (Wednesday) we might be receiving the schedule from the hosts, and we’ve just got a bit of consultation to do with all the participating teams and the broadcasters. Then we’ll be publishing that as soon as we possibly can,” Allardice said. “When we put on events, we very much work hand in hand with the hosts.”And in some places, there’s a lot of consultation that needs to take place, both within the cricket system and with governments, etc. There’s a lot of responsibility on a host to deliver a good event, and they’ve got to go through the right checks and balances.”Allardice was asked whether Pakistan’s willingness to play in India had any bearing on the apparent delay in the fixtures being announced, but he declined to elaborate.”Until I see the schedule… I’m waiting, and I’m hoping that I’ll see something in the next day or two on that,” he said. “Our events team is very experienced at putting on cricket events in all different countries, and you control what you control.”And I think that’s the approach that our team is taking, and they’re working on the things that they can progress for the event. The moment we have that information, we’ll be pushing on it at a rate of knots.”

Former Australia captain doesn’t believe that England are not driven by results

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2023Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has suggested that Ollie Robinson needs to back his words up with skill after the England seamer referenced Ponting’s sledging as a player to justify his send-off to Usman Khawaja during the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.On the third morning of the Test, Robinson removed Khawaja for 141, knocking back his off stump as Khawaja came down the pitch while looking to force the ball through the off side. Robinson celebrated by shouting towards Khawaja, and appeared to tell him to, “F*** off, you f***ing prick”.Ponting had remained tightlipped on the subject on commentary for Sky Sports for the remainder of the Test, but delivered some stern words to Robinson on ICC Review Podcast on Wednesday.Related

• Ollie Robinson: 'Getting stuck into the opposition is a role I've taken upon myself'

• Joe Root warns England fans: 'Strap in' for Ashes round two at Lord's

• Ollie Robinson: 'Australia were unwilling to go toe-to-toe with us'

• Robinson 'doesn't care' about reaction to Usman Khawaja send-off

• 'Losing sucks' – Execution to blame for England, not Bazball

“As I said after Ollie Robinson said what he said, this England cricket team hasn’t played against Australia, and they’ll find out pretty quickly what playing Ashes cricket and playing against a good Australian cricket team is all about,” Ponting said. “And if Robinson hasn’t learned that already after last week, then he’s a slow learner.”The 29-year-old pace bowler was questioned about it in a tense press conference after the third day’s play, and said he “doesn’t care” how Australia might receive his actions, and that he is “here to provide… that theatre of the game”.Robinson had even referenced Ponting during the same interaction, going to justify his actions citing the example of the former Australia captain.”We’ve all seen Ricky Ponting, [and] other Aussies do the same to us,” Robinson said. “Just because the shoe is on the other foot, it’s not received well.”But Ponting shot back at Robinson, saying the latter would “learn pretty quickly” what it means to prick the Australians in an Ashes series.”Some of the things he had to say – I mean he even brought my name into it, which I felt was a little bit unusual,” Ponting said. “But for me, it’s water off a duck’s back. If he is sitting back thinking about me, then no wonder he bowled like the way that he did in that game, if he’s worried about what I did 15 years ago.”If they’re not results driven, they wouldn’t be disappointed about losing” – Ponting on England’s approach•AFP/Getty Images

“He’ll learn pretty quickly that if you’re going to talk to Australian cricketers in an Ashes series, then you want to be able to back it up with your skills.”However, Khawaja was unperturbed by what was apparently said to him by Robinson, claiming that he did not hear the bowler’s send-off in the moment. The pair had a quiet exchange on the final day while Khawaja was batting, but the Australia opener said there was nothing in it.”The other day, the crowd was so loud I had no idea,” Khawaja said. “I got out and all I could hear was the Barmy Army. I didn’t actually hear anything. Today there was nothing much in it. Just a bit of friendly banter.”Meanwhile, Ponting also questioned whether England were being honest with their mantra that results don’t matter, given Ben Stokes’ post-match quotes about how devastated they were to lose at Edgbaston.”I’ve heard them say that before, that they’re not ‘results driven’, but I don’t believe that for a second,” Ponting said. “This is an Ashes series; this is the biggest challenge that Ben Stokes has had in his career as a captain.”I’m not copping that. I mean, if they’re not results driven, they wouldn’t be disappointed at all about losing. And it seemed to me last night; and he said it, that all his players were in pieces at the end of that game. So that means to me that they do care about losing, and you should.”Winning Test matches is not an easy thing to do, and winning an Ashes Test is not easy. You don’t want to be giving good cricket teams opportunities back into a game of Ashes cricket when you’re in control of the game. England were in control of the game late on day one. So England presented Australia with an opportunity, and Australia made the most of it.”

Gaby Lewis carried her bat for the visitors with an unbeaten 95 off 121, but it went in vain

Hemant Brar02-Jul-2023Contrasting half-centuries from Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry helped West Indies beat Ireland by six wickets in the third ODI in Gros Islet, and wrap up the series 2-0.Chasing a modest 204, West Indies were 94 for 4 around the halfway mark when Taylor and Henry joined hands. The pair added 110 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand to take the side home with 8.5 overs to spare. For both batters, it was their second half-century in as many innings, and for Taylor, her 40th in ODIs.As a result, West Indies pocketed five points from the series – the second ODI was washed out – to improve their position on the Women’s Championship table. They now have seven points from nine games and are placed fifth. Ireland are still at the bottom with a solitary point from their nine outings.After opting to bat, Ireland kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were all out for 203 on the last ball of the innings. Gaby Lewis was the only one to show some fight and cross 20. Opening the innings, Lewis scored an unbeaten 95 off 121 balls, thus becoming the sixth batter in women’s ODIs to carry her bat.Having said that, Ireland were in a decent position at one stage. After Cherry-Ann Fraser dismissed Leah Paul for 2, Lewis and Orla Prendergast took the side to 44 for 1 in the ninth over. But then Fraser struck again, having Prendergast caught down the leg side for 16 off 17 balls. Following that, Afy Fletcher and Hayley Matthews reduced Ireland to 110 for 7 as the visitors lost six wickets for 66 runs.Lewis, though, was firm at one end. She was on 39 off 72 at one point, but with wickets tumbling around, she accelerated and scored 56 runs off her next 49 deliveries. That resulted in Ireland adding 43 and 50 for the eighth and ninth wickets, respectively, as Ava Canning (20) and Cara Murray (19) offered support to Lewis.Rain interrupted the match in the 30th over of Ireland’s innings and again in the fifth over of the West Indies’, but neither delay was long enough to cause any loss of overs.In the chase, West Indies lost openers Matthews and Zaida James cheaply and were 42 for 2 in the 14th over. It could have become 62 for 3 when Taylor hit a full toss from Murray straight to short midwicket but Sophie MacMahon grassed the chance.Taylor was on 18 at that point. She got another life on 29 when Murray dropped her at short fine leg off Laura Delany. The second reprieve was just after left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire had Rashada Williams stumped for 17. Maguire would dismiss Shemaine Campbelle in the same manner in her next over but that would be the last time Ireland would pick up a wicket in the game.Henry, who had smashed an unbeaten 53 off just 37 balls in the first ODI, was at it again. While Taylor took 85 balls to bring up her half-century, Henry reached there in just 53 deliveries.With the target just nine runs away, Taylor hit two fours and a single in three balls to seal the win.

English players are in talks with MLC teams to be involved next year, and the Hundred is already impacted, with overseas players opting out of the draft to play in the USA

Matt Roller10-Jul-2023The Major League Cricket (MLC) organisers say there is “no animosity” between the league and the ECB, and are hoping that England’s leading white-ball players will sign up for the second season of the league in 2024.MLC’s inaugural season runs from July 13 to 30 and player salaries are highly competitive, with leading overseas players earning US$ 175,000 (£135,000 approx.) to play a minimum of five games.A number of England internationals held talks about playing in MLC through their representatives, though Jason Roy is the only active England player who will feature this season. The league takes place in the gap between the T20 Blast (barring Finals Day) and the Hundred, clashing with two rounds of County Championship fixtures and the final two Ashes Tests.Related

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• MLC: Teams, players, format, fixtures, and everything else you need to know

The ECB told centrally contracted players that they would not be given no-objection certificates (NOCs) to play that MLC and Roy requested a release from his incremental contract in order to take up his deal with Los Angeles Knight Riders, an affiliate of his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.”We’d probably like a couple more of the [England] guys, to be honest,” Justin Geale, MLC’s tournament director, told ESPNcricinfo. “But there are enough players to go around and we’re certainly not here to start a war with anyone.”It’d probably be a big ask for the red-ball, centrally contracted players but I think for some of the white-ball guys, there’s a world where they come over for sure. It’s not a huge tournament. We’ve certainly had an awful lot of interest from English players and we’ve had some positive engagement with them.”Ultimately, it’s what is good for the players as well. If they can supplement incomes while playing good cricket that is relevant for their careers, boards are generally okay with it. I couldn’t speak on behalf of the ECB but I certainly don’t think there’s any animosity between us, or any ‘we won’t be releasing players, leave us alone’ type thing.”Moeen Ali confirmed last month that he has an offer – understood to be with Texas Super Kings – to play in MLC in 2024, and England do not have any white-ball internationals scheduled between the end of the men’s T20 World Cup in June and their home series against Australia in September.MLC’s launch has already had a direct impact on the Hundred, the ECB’s 100-ball competition which is heading into its third season. While the leagues do not clash – the Hundred starts on August 1, two days after MLC’s final – several overseas players pulled out of the Hundred draft after signing deals to play in the USA.Higher salaries and the pull of IPL-affiliated teams mean the standard of overseas players in MLC is clearly higher, and with MLC expected to expand next year, the Hundred is clearly under threat. But Geale insisted, “We’re not here to compete with anyone.”He added, “Players are really keen to come and have a look. There’s a genuine curiosity about coming here, and it’s not a bad place to come and tour, the US: they can bring their family or their golf clubs and stay on for a bit, so we haven’t struggled there. The interest from players has been really good and there are some pretty star-studded line-ups.”Two Australian states, New South Wales and Victoria, have strategic partnerships with MLC and are running the Washington Freedom and San Francisco Unicorns franchises respectively, and Geale said that English counties have also reached out to MLC organisers to discuss opportunities to become involved in US cricket.”We’ve had a lot of interest from English counties who want to know more about the USA,” Geale said. “They’re curious to know about New South Wales, Victoria and their partnerships. The dialogue has been really positive.”We’d love to host some pre-season stuff out here. The weather is such around the country that you can play and I think there could be opportunities for teams to come out and play some matches in the USA – and to commercialise as well.”

Fast bowler went off the field after diving on the boundary

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Sep-2023Pakistan suffered an injury scare in the first Super Four match of the Asia Cup, with key fast bowler Naseem Shah going off the field with an injury to his right arm. He returned to the field shortly after, following treatment from the physio.The incident occurred in the seventh over of Bangladesh’s innings while Naseem was fielding at fine leg off the bowling of Shaheen Afridi. Mohammad Naim flicked the delivery off his pads to the fine leg boundary, and Naseem put in a full-length dive to his left before clutching his arm in pain. He lay prone on the ground for several minutes while the physio assisted him, after which he was led off the field. Mohammad Haris came in as a substitute for Naseem.Naseem was assessed to ascertain the extent of the damage and, in good news for Pakistan, he returned to the field at the end of 11th over. With the ODI World Cup also around the corner, any doubts over the fitness of one of Pakistan’s premier fast bowlers could have unsettled their plans.Until the injury, Naseem had opened the bowling alongside Shaheen Afridi, taking one wicket for 22 runs in three overs, dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz with his first ball of the match.

Karan KC, Dipendra Singh Airee and Lalit Rajbanshi have all been picked, while uncapped Pratis also found a spot

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2023Rohit Paudel will lead the Nepal men’s team in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who is currently out on bail in a case concerning alleged sexual coercion, has been picked in the squad.The squad sees wholesale changes from Nepal’s last T20I outing — a tour of Kenya in August 2022. Veteran batter Gyanendra Malla has since retired, while Arjun Saud, Pawan Sarraf, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Basir Ahamad and Aarif Sheikh among the others from that squad who don’t feature in the 15 picked for the Asian Games.Wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee make up the top order, Kushal Malla and Binod Bhandari will shore up the batting department, with Bhandari also serving as a backup wicketkeeper.Karan KC will lead the pace attack, which also features Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Abinash Bohara and Bibek Yadav. Pratis GC, who is uncapped in T20Is, has also been called up to the squad.Lalit Rajbanshi will form the spin attack along with Lamichhane, with the likes of Airee and Malla expected to chip in as well.The Asian Games will get underway on September 23.Nepal men’s squad for Asian Games: Rohit Paudel (capt), Aasif Sheikh (wk), Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla, Binod Bhandari, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Abinash Bohara, Bibek Yadav, Pratis GC, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sundeep Jora

He becomes the second England player after Ben Stokes to withdraw from IPL 2024

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2023England batter Joe Root, who had made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals earlier this year, has opted out of IPL 2024 just a day before the retention deadline. Royals said in a statement on their website that they “respect” Root’s decision.”During our retention conversations, Joe informed us of his decision to not take part in IPL 2024,” Kumar Sangakkara, Royals’ director of cricket, said. “Even in a short span of time, Joe was able to create such a positive impact on the franchise and the players around him. His energy around the group and the experience he brought to the Royals will be missed. We respect his decision totally and wish him success in everything he does.”Rob Key, England’s managing director of men’s cricket, had said after announcing the squad for the Caribbean tour that Root “needs a break” at the end of the World Cup.Related

• IPL 2024 auction scheduled for December 19 in Dubai

• Stokes opts out of IPL 2024 to 'manage workload and fitness'

• Royals trade Padikkal for LSG's Avesh in straight swap

“He’s not stopped since probably New Zealand or what he did in Pakistan, the ILT20, New Zealand, the Hundred, Ashes and so on,” Key had said.In the IPL 2023 auction, Root was snapped up by Royals for his base price of INR 1 crore ($US 121,000 approx. at the time). He played three games for them but batted in just one, scoring 10 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Jaipur. Though opportunities were limited, Root tried to be a “sponge” in India to “soak up a lot of different information” and adapt to the T20 format.He also enjoyed the company of youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, the breakout batter of IPL 2023, and Riyan Parag.”The 32-year-old’s addition to the Royals squad brought in plenty of depth and experience, which served as a learning experience for a lot of youngsters in the side like Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal in the team,” the franchise said in the statement. “His camaraderie with his England teammate Jos Buttler and his bonding with Yuzvendra Chahal was also one of the memorable highlights of the former England Test skipper’s stint with the Royals.”Root becomes the second England player after his Test captain Ben Stokes to pull out of the next season of the IPL. November 26 is the deadline for franchises to announce their releases and retentions ahead of auction on December 19.Royals have already been active in the trade window, bringing in India fast bowler Avesh Khan from Lucknow Super Giants, while letting go of Devdutt Padikkal to Super Giants.

Shahbaz traded to Sunrisers, Dagar to RCB

India allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed will be representing Sunrisers Hyderabad next season after his franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore traded him for bowling allrounder Mayank Dagar. The IPL confirmed that the trade is a direct swap between the two teams.Dagar, who plays domestic cricket for Himachal Pradesh, played three games for Sunrisers in what was his maiden IPL season after he was purchased for INR 1.8 crore ($219,000 approx.) in the 2023 auction. Shahbaz was secured for INR 2.4 crore ($320,000 approx.) before IPL 2022.Both Sunrisers and RCB have new managements in the upcoming season. While Sunrisers have Daniel Vettori as their new head coach, RCB have appointed Andy Flower in the same role.

How does the reserve day work? And what happens if there is no result even after the reserve day?

Andrew McGlashan14-Nov-20235:37

Finch on Australia’s champion mentality in World Cup knockouts

Is the forecast worrying for Kolkata?

Well, as ever, it depends which website you look at, but there is certainly a reasonable threat of rain playing a part. At the moment, Friday looks the more problematic day, with Thursday, the scheduled day of the semi-final, having a prediction of around a 50% chance of seeing showers.

When does the reserve day come into play?

Before activating the reserve day, the umpires will make every effort to complete the match on the scheduled day, including reducing the game to a minimum of 20 overs per side. Only if this isn’t possible does the extra day come into play. A reserve day was needed in the 2019 semi-final between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford.Related

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How does it work?

If a match isn’t completed on the scheduled day, and the reserve day is used, there are basically two scenarios for how the match is played out depending on when the final rain interruption has come.Courtesy of the ICC playing conditions, here are two working examples:Example 1: Match starts at 50 overs per side and there is an interruption at 19 overs. Overs are reduced to 46 overs per side and play is about to resume. Before another ball is bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match did not resume under the revised overs, the match should continue on the reserve day at the original 50 overs per side with the overs reduced if necessary during the reserve day.Example 2: The same start as in example 1 i.e. match starts at 50 overs per side and there is an interruption at 19 overs. Overs are reduced to 46 overs per side and play is about to resume. This time, play starts and after an over has been bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match has resumed, it is continued on the reserve day at 46 overs per side with the overs further reduced if necessary during the reserve day.

What happens if there’s a no result?

If a minimum of 20 overs per side is not possible across the two days and the match is a no result, the team that finished higher in the group stage will progress to the final. That means it would be South Africa who go through to the decider in Ahmedabad on November 19 (where it is very unlikely to rain).

Jonassen’s four-for helps them beat Sydney Thunder by 22 runs

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2023A star turn from spinner Jess Jonassen lifted Brisbane Heat to a 22-run win over Sydney Thunder and into the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) finals.Chasing 160 for 8, Thunder fell short with Jonassen snaring four wickets in Friday’s fixture at Adelaide Oval. Heat’s victory in their last regular-season game ensured they reached the finals – they were in third spot on 16 points.Thunder are fourth on 15 points with one game remaining, two points clear of fifth-placed Hobart Hurricanes who also have one match left before the finals.But Hurricanes would need a massive win over ladder leaders Adelaide Strikers on Sunday to boost their run-rate ahead of Thunder, who meet Sydney Sixers in their last game before the playoffs.The team that finishes top will gain direct entry into the final which they will host on December 2. The second-placed side will host the Eliminator and Challenger finals.Jonassen was pivotal in Friday’s win, taking 4 for 26 from her four overs, after Thunder openers Chamari Athapaththu and Phoebe Litchfield gave the Sydney-siders a brisk start.But Thunder lost six wickets in an eight-over span to lose momentum as Jonassen turned the screws. She claimed the key duo of Athapaththu and Marizanne Kapp as the chase stalled.Earlier, Heat’s Bess Heath made 29 from 25 balls to top score during an even batting effort. Seven batters made more than 12 with opener Georgia Redmayne (21 from 21), Amelia Kerr (20 from 17) and Laura Harris (19 from 9) making handy contributions.Heat’s innings finished with a flourish as Georgia Voll smacked a six in her rapid-fire 18 not out from only eight balls.