Phoebe Litchfield is set to play a crucial role in the Sydney Thunder's semi final on Thursday night against a Brisbane Heat side that has roared back from a woeful start to the season.
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Ms Litchfield's form has been strong over the past week.
On November 18, in a game at Sydney Showground Stadium against the Sydney Sixers, Litchfield, 17, came within an inch of getting the Thunder home.
The reverse sweep and pull shots may cause purists to wince, but they've become a key feature of the shortened game, where style and technique can give way to the ability to smash boundaries any which way.
Ms Litchfield, who is not without solid technique and timing, used the reverse sweep and pull to ruthless effect against the Sixers, thwacking a series of boundaries that left her needing a six off the final ball to land a remarkable victory.
Unfortunately she was bowled by a full length off spinner from Erin Burns.
"The players are now hitting 360 degrees, it's the modern game," Sydney Thunder coach Trevor Griffin told the Central Western Daily.
"They're being more innovative in looking at how to score runs.
"If you stick to hitting in the same area all the time the opposition will just put fielders there."
Mr Griffin said that aside from the reverse shots, "Phoebe also showed how great she is at being able to hit straight down the ground going in that last over against Erin Burns.
"Phoebe has all of these skills and she is able to execute them."
Following that loss to the Sixers, the Thunder have backed up with two wins.
On November 21 at Drummoyne Oval they beat the Adelaide Strikers by five wickets.
Ms Litchfield scored 16 not out off 14 balls.
And a day later, at the same venue, they were too good for the Hobart Hurricanes, winning by six wickets.
It was another unbeaten knock from Ms Litchfield with 24 off 25 balls; she also took two catches.
Thunder captain Rachael Haynes said the players were coping well with living in a "hub", a result of restrictions caused by COVID.
"I was a little bit worried at the start, but the players have been enjoying each other's company."
She said the semi final was about "trusting your skills and executing those."
Eight of Litchfield's 13 fellow Sydney Thunder squad members are under the age of 20, with veterans Alex Blackwell and Rene Farrell calling time on their careers after last season.
In an interview with the Central Western Daily last month Ms Litchfield said the Thunder were in a rebuilding phase.
"We're really young, it's pretty crazy," she said.
"It is odd ... we've got a lot of young girls and older heads. The older players around us do a really good job.
"If these players stick around for the next 10 years we'll have an amazing side."
The semi final is at North Sydney Oval.
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