Knott's Maiden WBBL Century Ends Heat's 706-Day Wait for a Win

Charli Knott powered her way to a maiden Big Bash century as Brisbane Heat finally ended their long wait for a win, beating Adelaide Strikers by 14 runs in the Women's Big Bash League at Drummoyne Oval on Thursday. The opener reached her hundred in 56 balls and finished with 104 from 61 deliveries, driving Heat to 184 for four from their 20 overs. It was a breakthrough innings for the 23-year-old, who had opened the season with 57 in the Heat's first game and now leads the WBBL|12 run charts with 177 runs from three matches, earning the BKT Golden Cap as the competition's leading scorer. Her 104, struck at a strike rate close to 150, set up a total the Strikers could not chase down despite reaching 170 for five. The result was Heat's first victory since the WBBL|10 Challenger final, snapping a 706-day drought that had hung over the club through a winless WBBL|11 campaign. Knott, who was unfortunate to be run out after a mix-up with Yastika Bhatia, later said a shift in mindset had unlocked her form at the top of the order after a difficult first season as an opener.