It took 20 overs for the Strikers to get to 125-5. The only scores that stood out were 39 by Laura Wolvaardt and 38 by captain Tahlia McGrath.

But Heat was only able to score 122 runs before being bowled out. Amanda-Jade Wellington took two wickets in the last over to win the victory by three runs.

“That is the definition of a team performance right there,” he said.

“We keep showing up, we’re such a special team.”

McGrath got two wickets with help from Wellington’s 3-16 and Megan Schutt’s 2-30. Jemma Barsby, on the other hand, only got 1-15 off of three overs.

It meant that Heat needed 13 runs from the last over because they were down six wickets but still in the game because Amelia Kerr was on 30 and hadn’t been out yet.

For a short time, there was hope after Mikayla Hinkley hit a six, but Wellington then got her third wicket, and second in the over. Nicola Hancock needed a boundary from the last ball to escape losing.

Hancock had helped keep Adelaide’s score low by getting 3-23, but he could only get a single with the bat, which made the Strikers players very happy.

After finishing six points ahead of second-placed Perth Scorchers at the top of the table in the group rounds, they went straight to the final.

The Heat came in third place and beat the fourth-placed Sydney Thunder in the Eliminator. They then easily beat the Scorchers in the Challenger to secure their spot.

Danielle Gibson from the Strikers and Bess Heath from the Heat left to get ready for England’s tour of India, which starts on Wednesday.