THERE is always pressure on a bowler when thrown the ball in a Twenty20 fixture, but when given the task of bowling the 19th over when a rival requires just 16 runs for victory that pressure intensifies.
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In that situation some bowlers stray from their usual good line and length, while others rise to the challenge for their team.
On Sunday at Bankstown Oval, Bathurst talent Lisa Griffith showed she is a bowler who stands up under pressure when she helped Sydney Thunder to a five-run Women’s Big Bash League victory over Melbourne Stars.
Griffith was handed the ball at the death as the Stars chased an upset win, needing 16 runs to eclipse Thunder’s 6-122 and having three wickets in hand.
While her first delivery went for an single, Griffith removed Alana King with her next ball.
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King had hit 12 off the previous eight balls she had faced and looked a threat, but she gloved Griffith’s delivery and wicket-keeper Rachel Priest took the catch. Importantly it was a dot ball as well.
Stars managed just two more singles from Griffith’s over – she finished with 1-21 off her four – leaving them needing 13 runs off the final over to clinch victory.
They fell short and Thunder picked up the win which keeps them within one point of competition leaders the Sydney Sixers.
Griffith had earlier bowled a maiden in the power play as her side worked to defend the small total, finishing the match with 13 dots.
Her next assignment is on Tuesday against the fourth-placed Renegades.
